In His Grip: Recent Episodes
Dr. Chuck Betters
MARKINC seeks to help men and women grow in their faith so that they are better equipped to face the trials and suffering that they will encounter in life. In His Grip is the preaching and teaching ministry of Dr. Chuck F. Betters from 40+ years in church ministry.
Marissa Bondurant joins Sharon Betters to share how her caregiving journey started when her family received a devastating diagnosis for her four-year-old daughter. Not only does she have comfort to offer caregivers, but her story through the land of childhood cancer will also encourage us. Marissa takes listeners deep into her journey of caring for not just one child but two children diagnosed with cancer. Her passion for helping other caregivers care for themselves shows up in her book, Who Cares for You? Whether you are a caregiver, love someone who is, or perhaps have a child battling cancer, this conversation is for you. Take Marissa with you on a walk, on your way to work, or running your carpool. Listen and share.
Lou Priolo says we are experiencing an epidemic of loneliness. In this conversation with Sharon Betters and Chuck L. Betters, Lou defines loneliness and encourages us to realize loneliness is painful but it can also bring blessings. He shares stories about people in the Bible who experience deep loneliness and points out that many of the Psalmists expressed their own loneliness. Knowing others have walked the path of loneliness before us helps us realize we are not alone and there is help. The loneliness that is not addressed can lead to other emotions taking up residence in our hearts, such as disappointment in our friends, anger, fear, and paranoia. Unless we deal with the root cause of loneliness, we are destined to view all relationships through the grid of those emotions. Listen and share!
This series focuses on the life of David. Why should we study the life of this man? David’s story is a picture of Messianic typology. We see in David the struggle against the flesh that is so typical in all of us. And we will see what a man after God’s own heart looks like. We start in 1 Samuel 16 where the Israelites cry for a king. It is a period of hopeless humanism, void of leadership. The people choose a man based on outward appearance, electability and sound bites. They chose Saul, tall, dark and handsome. Saul was a good looking man, but he lacked character. He was prone to hot tempered outbursts, bouts of intense depression and capable of incredible evil, jealousy, control, obsession with fame and even murder. God gives them Saul. But waiting in the wings is a shepherd boy, David.
This series focuses on the life of David. Why should we study the life of this man? David’s story is a picture of Messianic typology. We see in David the struggle against the flesh that is so typical in all of us. And we will see what a man after God’s own heart looks like. We start in 1 Samuel 16 where the Israelites cry for a king. It is a period of hopeless humanism, void of leadership. The people choose a man based on outward appearance, electability and sound bites. They chose Saul, tall, dark and handsome. Saul was a good looking man, but he lacked character. He was prone to hot tempered outbursts, bouts of intense depression and capable of incredible evil, jealousy, control, obsession with fame and even murder. God gives them Saul. But waiting in the wings is a shepherd boy, David.
This series focuses on the life of David. Why should we study the life of this man? David’s story is a picture of Messianic typology. We see in David the struggle against the flesh that is so typical in all of us. And we will see what a man after God’s own heart looks like. We start in 1 Samuel 16 where the Israelites cry for a king. It is a period of hopeless humanism, void of leadership. The people choose a man based on outward appearance, electability and sound bites. They chose Saul, tall, dark and handsome. Saul was a good looking man, but he lacked character. He was prone to hot tempered outbursts, bouts of intense depression and capable of incredible evil, jealousy, control, obsession with fame and even murder. God gives them Saul. But waiting in the wings is a shepherd boy, David.
This series focuses on the life of David. Why should we study the life of this man? David’s story is a picture of Messianic typology. We see in David the struggle against the flesh that is so typical in all of us. And we will see what a man after God’s own heart looks like. We start in 1 Samuel 16 where the Israelites cry for a king. It is a period of hopeless humanism, void of leadership. The people choose a man based on outward appearance, electability and sound bites. They chose Saul, tall, dark and handsome. Saul was a good looking man, but he lacked character. He was prone to hot tempered outbursts, bouts of intense depression and capable of incredible evil, jealousy, control, obsession with fame and even murder. God gives them Saul. But waiting in the wings is a shepherd boy, David.
This series focuses on the life of David. Why should we study the life of this man? David’s story is a picture of Messianic typology. We see in David the struggle against the flesh that is so typical in all of us. And we will see what a man after God’s own heart looks like. We start in 1 Samuel 16 where the Israelites cry for a king. It is a period of hopeless humanism, void of leadership. The people choose a man based on outward appearance, electability and sound bites. They chose Saul, tall, dark and handsome. Saul was a good looking man, but he lacked character. He was prone to hot tempered outbursts, bouts of intense depression and capable of incredible evil, jealousy, control, obsession with fame and even murder. God gives them Saul. But waiting in the wings is a shepherd boy, David.
When unexpected moments change life’s trajectory, we’re left with a choice: Do we overcome the unexpected, as the world recommends, or undergo it? In this conversation with Sharon Betters and Chuck L. Betters, Author Jillian Benfield says experiencing an unexpected season begins a transformation that deconstructs our old self and reconstructs us into who God intends us to become. Jillian shares the story of how her son Anderson’s Down Syndrome and congenital heart defect diagnoses faced her with hard questions about her definition of success, her value, her son’s value, and her view of God. She encourages listeners not to gloss over the hard parts of the human condition. Instead, she says, undergoing the unexpected gives us the opportunity to let go of our old selves, tearing down false beliefs about our identities, humanity, and God. In a culture where the prosperity gospel (control) and the American dream (achievement) are glorified, Jillian says God uses the unexpected to disorient us from the ideals of Western society. His surprising gift equips believers to relate to the world’s pain and recognize how our worth and purpose rest in Him. We need this message! Listen and Share! Jillianbenefield.com
What is a grandmother’s role in the lives of her grandchildren? How can she pass on a legacy of faith? What if she is estranged from her grandchildren, or they don’t seem to be interested in having a relationship with her? What are some practical ways a grandmother can intentionally pursue a friendship with her grands and what if they don’t respond to her efforts? What about those envious feelings when a grandmother sees all the beautiful social media posts of the perfect grandmother interacting with her grandchildren? How about guilt over not investing in her grandchildren? Is there a way to influence our grands without any interaction with them? In this conversation with Sharon Betters, Kathie March, and Pam Ferriss respond to these questions and much more. Do you love your grandchildren? This conversation will help equip you to pray intentionally. What a gift for your grandchildren to say, “My Grandmother is Praying for Me.”
You start your day thinking it will be like any other. And then a text with four words, “Eva not breathing. Pray.” Within hours, the unexpected death of your daughter propels you and your family down into the deepest sorrow you have ever experienced. In this conversation with Sharon Betters, Mel Lawrenz introduces us to his beloved daughter Eva and how her unexpected death led his family into the Land of Grief. In this conversation, Mel talks about giving freedom to people to grieve their way, how lament is a gift, and how his theology gave him the freedom to grieve honestly as he clung to the Lord. Mel and Sharon belong to that club no one wants to join – where admission requires the loss of a child. There are treasures in the conversation for anyone in grief and for those who love them.
You start your day thinking it will be like any other. And then a text with four words, “Eva not breathing. Pray.” Within hours, the unexpected death of your daughter propels you and your family down into the deepest sorrow you have ever experienced. In this conversation with Sharon Betters, Mel Lawrenz introduces us to his beloved daughter Eva and how her unexpected death led his family into the Land of Grief. In this conversation, Mel talks about giving freedom to people to grieve their way, how lament is a gift, and how his theology gave him the freedom to grieve honestly as he clung to the Lord. Mel and Sharon belong to that club no one wants to join – where admission requires the loss of a child. There are treasures in the conversation for anyone in grief and for those who love them.
Abuse, deep loss, broken relationships, grief, self-inflicted pain – is it possible to experience healing from a painful past? Lauren Whitman, author of A Painful Past – Healing and Moving Forward, answers this question and much more. For instance, why would anyone want to dig up their past? Isn’t it better to “let sleeping dogs lie”? Can we forgive and forget? How does our view of God influence our journey toward healing? How do you know when to ask a counselor for help? And how does having a counselor make the journey a little clearer? If you or someone you know is struggling with a painful past, please listen and then share the good news – there is hope and a way to move forward.
“A silver wave is coming,” says author and speaker Elizabeth Turnage. Baby boomers are facing the hardest challenge of their lives – how to die well. In this conversation with Sharon Betters, Elizabeth challenges listeners to take steps now to make it easier for loved ones after you die. Elizabeth shares how her dad died without any intentional preparation of affairs or instructions for his children. She compares his response to death, to her mother’s and how she prepared a folder of important papers and instructions with a list of 5 steps to immediately take upon her death. Elizabeth describes how her mother’s intentional preparation was such a gift to her as she grieved her mother’s sudden death. Elizabeth acknowledges the grief we experience as we begin this process. She encourages us to imagine the relief of our children, who, in the middle of their own grief, know how to honor us in our death. She admits there is grief when we are preparing others for when we are not here, practical ideas for sorting through precious belongings, how to distribute them when our children are not interested, and giving the gift of “all expenses paid” funeral plans. Along with, how to deal with the distribution of your estate when you are reluctant to give to a child who does not share your values. Elizabeth is so passionate about helping us intentionally prepare for this last step of life, that she offers a course called Organizing Your Life and Legacy.
Abuse, deep loss, broken relationships, grief, self-inflicted pain – is it possible to experience healing from a painful past? Lauren Whitman, the author of A Painful Past – Healing and Moving Forward, answers this question and much more. For instance, why would anyone want to dig up their past? Isn’t it better to “let sleeping dogs lie”? Can we forgive and forget? How does our view of God influence our journey toward healing? How do you know when to ask a counselor for help? And how does having a counselor make the journey a little clearer? If you or someone you know is struggling with a painful past, please listen and then share the good news – there is hope and a way to move forward.
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome - Can Suffering Bring Gifts?Darci and Mark Steiner’s lives turned inside out and upside down when Darci nearly lost her life after a debilitating fall down the stairs in her home. She was later diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome and spent six years bedridden with such horrific pain she could not tolerate even a sheet to touch her body. Her husband, Mark, immediately took on the role of caregiver for Darci and all the extra responsibilities of raising their two little girls.In this conversation with Sharon Better, Darci and Mark freely answer questions about their struggle to find a “new normal” when Darci was incapable of caring for their girls or their home. Mark brings the unique perspective of a full-time caregiver and how Mark sometimes struggles with meeting all the needs of their children and his wife. They both share the spiritual challenges of understanding the sovereignty of God over what seem like set backs and unfair loss and how the Lord has met them in their most broken moments. They share their story in Darci’s book, Beauty Beyond the Thorns: Discovering Gifts in Suffering. Darci and Mark have both served in ministry, Darci as a teen and women’s ministry leader, as well as assisting with church plants in Denver and Los Angeles. Mark has served in full-time ministry in San Francisco and Thailand. In the late 80's Mark helped Cambodian refugees from the Khmer Rouge “killing fields" and the fighting between Cambodian guerillas and the Vietnamese army on the border of Cambodia and Thailand. He is an entrepreneur, along with caring for Darci.Connect with Darci - https://www.darcijsteiner.com/
How are you feeling today? Stressed, overwhelmed, drowning in too much to do, anxiety, the rubble of broken relationships – just life? Are these feelings seasonable or do you struggle with persistent gnawing anxiety? Sometimes, something happens that feels like the straw that breaks the camel’s back and we cry out, “I didn’t sign up for this!” Ann Swindell, author of The Path to Peace, Comfort When You’re Feeling Overwhelmed gets it!. After repeated disappointments and hurts, one day Ann declared, “I didn’t sign up for this!” But that moment of hitting bottom was the beginning of seeking unshakable peace. In this conversation with Sharon Betters, Ann will be sharing some of what she learned about genuine peace, not only through her own journey but the lives of men and women in scripture. You will be mentored and encouraged in your own search for the pathway to peace.
Mental Illness. The very words chill our souls. Yet, millions of people struggle with mental illness every minute of every day. In this powerful, transparent interview, one family describes their extraordinary battle to find stability when their family life revolves around the insecurity of a wife and mother diagnosed with Bipolar illness. The purpose of these resources is to offer help and hope to those who struggle with “secret” pain, those difficult life crises that are hard to understand or discuss, harder still to experience. Mental illness is perhaps one of the loneliest and most isolating of life crises. This family shares their own story with hopes their lives will offer help and hope to others who fight every day to find purpose. This interview is also for those who love someone broken by mental illness. It is our prayer that many will find help and hope in
Jerry was born with Cerebral Palsy, but Joan had worked with people who have disabilities throughout her life, so she thought she knew what she was signing up for when they were married over twenty years ago. In this transparent interview, Joan and Jerry share the challenges of marriage and disability, but you might be surprised at what they describe as some of the greatest challenges. Listen in as Joan and Jerry not only offer hope to people with disabilities and to parents of children with disabilities, but also remind us that the dreams of people with disabilities aren’t much different than anyone else. This conversation is not just for people with disabilities!
Aging is a season of loss on many levels. Married women fear losing their spouse or outliving their children. In fact, today there are 13.6 million widows in America, and about 700,000 women become a widow in the U.S. each year. Single women who have never married can fear being alone in the last years of life. In this conversation with Sharon Betters, seventy-two-year old Jerdone Davis frankly shares some of the emotional challenges of anticipating aging alone, including addressing how we can prepare for this season while we are younger and how can we handle the fears of being alone, especially in the last season of our lives. No matter your marital status, Jerdone’s recommendations for preparing for the last season of life will encourage you to be intentional in taking steps to make things easier for loved ones after your death.In the book co-authored by Susan Hunt and Sharon Betters, Aging with Grace, Flourishing in an Anti-Aging Culture, each chapter ends with a story-teller who is at least seventy years old. Each woman gives the readers a glimpse into what aging with grace looks like for her. One of those storytellers is Jerdone Davis. In a five-minute video for the companion series Aging with Grace, Ask an Older Woman, Jerdone answered the question: How do you deal with loneliness and fear as an aging single woman?
In this conversation with Sharon Betters, Miho Kahn and her husband share the story of Miho’s journey into a world of drugs, violence and abuse. At the age of fourteen, Miho pushed against the boundaries of her parents’ quiet life and struck out on her own, telling her sister, “Don’t try to find me.” As you listen, you might think, “This story could be a compelling movie” as you imagine a young girl hitch-hiking alone across America and exposing herself to danger and abuse. Miho shares the story of her drug addiction, rape, co-dependency, abortion - and all of this happened before she was seventeen years old. Miho transparently shares her journey and how she found peace and direction in a personal relationship to Jesus.
Is it ever ok to question God’s love or wisdom, especially when you love and serve Him but experience tremendous loss? Dr. Frank A. James, President and Professor of Historical Theology at Missio Seminary in Pennsylvania joins Dr. Chuck F. Betters to talk about this very question. Frank’s story of loss started when his younger brother, Kelly, was trapped in a snow cave on Mt. Hood and an unyielding blizzard prevented rescue. News outlets from all over the world covered the fear and anguish of Frank’s family as they waited for news about Kelly. Frank describes the emotional roller coaster of hope, fear, confusion, despair and lament as they waited and then as they realized Kelly would not survive. As a professor, author, seminary president, how is it possible Frank struggled with hard theological questions about suffering and lament. Frank’s transparency will encourage you to better understand how God welcomes your questions and holds you tightly in His grip when you struggle to understand His purposes.
We all want to be beautiful and successful. Often this desire pushes us off a cliff into concluding we are never enough. And sometimes these feelings lead us into addictions in our pursuit of beauty and success. At least 30 million people of all ages and genders suffer from an eating disorder in the United States. Perhaps you are one of them or you know someone suffering from an eating disorder. In this Help & Hope interview, Sarah Ivill talks with Sharon Betters about her own struggle with an eating disorder and how it reflected her view that she was never enough. But an eating disorder is not the only addiction resulting from feeling inadequate. With great compassion, Sarah discusses some of the lies that feed into the feeling that we are never enough, the need to get to the root of the lies and how an eating disorder is an addiction that can take a long time to break. Though you may have no experience with an eating disorder, the truths that Sarah shares apply to any place in our lives where we feel we are not enough.
Barbara Juliani and Jane Anne Wilson join Sharon Betters to talk about those feelings every mother experiences at one time or another. This conversation follows an interview with Barbara about prodigal children. Barbara and her father Jack Miller co-authored Come Back, Barbara, a raw and transparent story of Barbara’s rebellion against her parents and their faith and her journey “back home”. Whenever a child rebels or disappoints parents, mothers often feel ashamed and as though their child’s behavior is a reflection on their parenting skills. “Was I too soft, too hard, spanked when I shouldn’t have, neglected a specific need in my child?” Where do moms go with these feelings? If you are that mother, this conversation will encourage you as you realize you are not alone and there is a way toward freedom.
Do these words haunt you: "Mom, Dad, I don't want your rules and morals. I don't want to act like a Christian anymore! And I'm not going to," Barbara Juliani (then Barbara Miller) made this declaration at the age 18. As her father desperately attempted to reason with her, Barbara grew more resentful, choosing a path of immorality that only deepened her parents' pain. Such a declaration from a child, no matter their age, creates havoc and soul-searching in the hearts of their parents, who often ask, “What did I do wrong?” In this conversation with Sharon Betters and Jane Anne Wilson, Barbara Juliani shares her story and addresses some of the ways parents take on the guilt of their children and responsibility for their decisions. You might be surprised by some of her conclusions. Her dad, Jack Miller wrote:"I am not ignorant of human depravity," writes C. John Miller, "but I had long denied that it could exist in our family." That reality, however, forced him to confront his own sin, seek forgiveness, admit his inability to change his wayward daughter, and begin loving Barbara on God's terms.In their book, Come Back, Barbara, "Jack" Miller and Barbara Miller Juliani chronicle their journey from grief and conflict to joyful reconciliation. Come Back, Barbara is thus an irresistible portrayal of God's grace to the Millers and us all. Our conversation with Barbara reminds broken-hearted parents about the freedom of experiencing such grace in the midst of their child’s rebellion.Help & Hope Story: Motherhood, Shame & Guilt with Barbara Juliani and Jane Anne WilsonFor more about Barbara’s journey as a prodigal child, check out Come Back, Barbara. Come Back, Barbara
Google mother-in-law jokes and you can take your pick of numerous sites that offer laughter at the expense of the mother-in-law. Becoming a mother-in-law after pouring your life into your son might be one of the most difficult challenges some women face. Perhaps family conflict is one of the hardest places to experience help and hope. This conversation between Annie Chapman and Sharon Betters will help guide daughters-in-law and mothers-in-law through the sometimes difficult maze of “sharing” a man. Annie Chapman is the author of The Mother-In-Law Dance and knows from experience how challenging it can be to get along with your mother-in-law. She also has married sons so she brings great wisdom on family relationships that might be just what you need to find a bridge into your “in-law’s” heart or build an even stronger relationship. Can two women love the same man and still get along? Annie says yes! And she offers sound advice for those times when only one party wants to have that friendship.
Twenty-one surgeries by age thirteen. Years in the hospital. Verbal and physical bullying from schoolmates. Multiple miscarriages as a young wife. The death of a child. A debilitating progressive disease. Riveting pain. Abandonment. Unwanted divorce. How can one woman survive let alone thrive when she experiences such crashing waves of pain? In this conversation with Sharon Betters, Vaneetha Rendall Risner, author of The Scars that Have Shaped Me; How God meets us in Suffering, has experienced all these life crises and more. Rather than despair and giving up when wave after wave of loss hits, Veneetha encourages us to allow suffering to draw us into the heart of God.
David The Shepherd WarriorThis series focuses on the life of David. Why should we study the life of this man? David’s story is a picture of Messianic typology. We see in David the struggle against the flesh that is so typical in all of us. And we will see what a man after God’s own heart looks like. We start in 1 Samuel 16 where the Israelites cry for a king. It is a period of hopeless humanism, void of leadership. The people choose a man based on outward appearance, electability and sound bites. They chose Saul, tall, dark and handsome. Saul was a good looking man, but he lacked character. He was prone to hot tempered outbursts, bouts of intense depression and capable of incredible evil, jealousy, control, obsession with fame and even murder. God gives them Saul. But waiting in the wings is a shepherd boy, David.
David The Shepherd WarriorThis series focuses on the life of David. Why should we study the life of this man? David’s story is a picture of Messianic typology. We see in David the struggle against the flesh that is so typical in all of us. And we will see what a man after God’s own heart looks like. We start in 1 Samuel 16 where the Israelites cry for a king. It is a period of hopeless humanism, void of leadership. The people choose a man based on outward appearance, electability and sound bites. They chose Saul, tall, dark and handsome. Saul was a good looking man, but he lacked character. He was prone to hot tempered outbursts, bouts of intense depression and capable of incredible evil, jealousy, control, obsession with fame and even murder. God gives them Saul. But waiting in the wings is a shepherd boy, David.
David The Shepherd WarriorThis series focuses on the life of David. Why should we study the life of this man? David’s story is a picture of Messianic typology. We see in David the struggle against the flesh that is so typical in all of us. And we will see what a man after God’s own heart looks like. We start in 1 Samuel 16 where the Israelites cry for a king. It is a period of hopeless humanism, void of leadership. The people choose a man based on outward appearance, electability and sound bites. They chose Saul, tall, dark and handsome. Saul was a good looking man, but he lacked character. He was prone to hot tempered outbursts, bouts of intense depression and capable of incredible evil, jealousy, control, obsession with fame and even murder. God gives them Saul. But waiting in the wings is a shepherd boy, David.
David The Shepherd WarriorThis series focuses on the life of David. Why should we study the life of this man? David’s story is a picture of Messianic typology. We see in David the struggle against the flesh that is so typical in all of us. And we will see what a man after God’s own heart looks like. We start in 1 Samuel 16 where the Israelites cry for a king. It is a period of hopeless humanism, void of leadership. The people choose a man based on outward appearance, electability and sound bites. They chose Saul, tall, dark and handsome. Saul was a good looking man, but he lacked character. He was prone to hot tempered outbursts, bouts of intense depression and capable of incredible evil, jealousy, control, obsession with fame and even murder. God gives them Saul. But waiting in the wings is a shepherd boy, David.
David The Shepherd WarriorThis series focuses on the life of David. Why should we study the life of this man? David’s story is a picture of Messianic typology. We see in David the struggle against the flesh that is so typical in all of us. And we will see what a man after God’s own heart looks like. We start in 1 Samuel 16 where the Israelites cry for a king. It is a period of hopeless humanism, void of leadership. The people choose a man based on outward appearance, electability and sound bites. They chose Saul, tall, dark and handsome. Saul was a good looking man, but he lacked character. He was prone to hot tempered outbursts, bouts of intense depression and capable of incredible evil, jealousy, control, obsession with fame and even murder. God gives them Saul. But waiting in the wings is a shepherd boy, David.
David The Shepherd WarriorThis series focuses on the life of David. Why should we study the life of this man? David’s story is a picture of Messianic typology. We see in David the struggle against the flesh that is so typical in all of us. And we will see what a man after God’s own heart looks like. We start in 1 Samuel 16 where the Israelites cry for a king. It is a period of hopeless humanism, void of leadership. The people choose a man based on outward appearance, electability and sound bites. They chose Saul, tall, dark and handsome. Saul was a good looking man, but he lacked character. He was prone to hot tempered outbursts, bouts of intense depression and capable of incredible evil, jealousy, control, obsession with fame and even murder. God gives them Saul. But waiting in the wings is a shepherd boy, David.
David The Shepherd WarriorThis series focuses on the life of David. Why should we study the life of this man? David’s story is a picture of Messianic typology. We see in David the struggle against the flesh that is so typical in all of us. And we will see what a man after God’s own heart looks like. We start in 1 Samuel 16 where the Israelites cry for a king. It is a period of hopeless humanism, void of leadership. The people choose a man based on outward appearance, electability and sound bites. They chose Saul, tall, dark and handsome. Saul was a good looking man, but he lacked character. He was prone to hot tempered outbursts, bouts of intense depression and capable of incredible evil, jealousy, control, obsession with fame and even murder. God gives them Saul. But waiting in the wings is a shepherd boy, David.
David The Shepherd WarriorThis series focuses on the life of David. Why should we study the life of this man? David’s story is a picture of Messianic typology. We see in David the struggle against the flesh that is so typical in all of us. And we will see what a man after God’s own heart looks like. We start in 1 Samuel 16 where the Israelites cry for a king. It is a period of hopeless humanism, void of leadership. The people choose a man based on outward appearance, electability and sound bites. They chose Saul, tall, dark and handsome. Saul was a good looking man, but he lacked character. He was prone to hot tempered outbursts, bouts of intense depression and capable of incredible evil, jealousy, control, obsession with fame and even murder. God gives them Saul. But waiting in the wings is a shepherd boy, David.
David The Shepherd WarriorThis series focuses on the life of David. Why should we study the life of this man? David’s story is a picture of Messianic typology. We see in David the struggle against the flesh that is so typical in all of us. And we will see what a man after God’s own heart looks like. We start in 1 Samuel 16 where the Israelites cry for a king. It is a period of hopeless humanism, void of leadership. The people choose a man based on outward appearance, electability and sound bites. They chose Saul, tall, dark and handsome. Saul was a good looking man, but he lacked character. He was prone to hot tempered outbursts, bouts of intense depression and capable of incredible evil, jealousy, control, obsession with fame and even murder. God gives them Saul. But waiting in the wings is a shepherd boy, David.
David The Shepherd WarriorThis series focuses on the life of David. Why should we study the life of this man? David’s story is a picture of Messianic typology. We see in David the struggle against the flesh that is so typical in all of us. And we will see what a man after God’s own heart looks like. We start in 1 Samuel 16 where the Israelites cry for a king. It is a period of hopeless humanism, void of leadership. The people choose a man based on outward appearance, electability and sound bites. They chose Saul, tall, dark and handsome. Saul was a good looking man, but he lacked character. He was prone to hot tempered outbursts, bouts of intense depression and capable of incredible evil, jealousy, control, obsession with fame and even murder. God gives them Saul. But waiting in the wings is a shepherd boy, David.
David The Shepherd WarriorThis series focuses on the life of David. Why should we study the life of this man? David’s story is a picture of Messianic typology. We see in David the struggle against the flesh that is so typical in all of us. And we will see what a man after God’s own heart looks like. We start in 1 Samuel 16 where the Israelites cry for a king. It is a period of hopeless humanism, void of leadership. The people choose a man based on outward appearance, electability and sound bites. They chose Saul, tall, dark and handsome. Saul was a good looking man, but he lacked character. He was prone to hot tempered outbursts, bouts of intense depression and capable of incredible evil, jealousy, control, obsession with fame and even murder. God gives them Saul. But waiting in the wings is a shepherd boy, David.
David The Shepherd WarriorThis series focuses on the life of David. Why should we study the life of this man? David’s story is a picture of Messianic typology. We see in David the struggle against the flesh that is so typical in all of us. And we will see what a man after God’s own heart looks like. We start in 1 Samuel 16 where the Israelites cry for a king. It is a period of hopeless humanism, void of leadership. The people choose a man based on outward appearance, electability and sound bites. They chose Saul, tall, dark and handsome. Saul was a good looking man, but he lacked character. He was prone to hot tempered outbursts, bouts of intense depression and capable of incredible evil, jealousy, control, obsession with fame and even murder. God gives them Saul. But waiting in the wings is a shepherd boy, David.
This series focuses on the life of David. Why should we study the life of this man? David’s story is a picture of Messianic typology. We see in David the struggle against the flesh that is so typical in all of us. And we will see what a man after God’s own heart looks like. We start in 1 Samuel 16 where the Israelites cry for a king. It is a period of hopeless humanism, void of leadership. The people choose a man based on outward appearance, electability and sound bites. They chose Saul, tall, dark and handsome. Saul was a good looking man, but he lacked character. He was prone to hot tempered outbursts, bouts of intense depression and capable of incredible evil, jealousy, control, obsession with fame and even murder. God gives them Saul. But waiting in the wings is a shepherd boy, David.
Instead of enjoying the freedom that comes with young adulthood, there is a whole population that struggles to reconcile their physical limitations with every day life. Three young adults share their own stories of dealing with delayed life plans, limited social lives, and the search for friends who “get” their physical disabilities. Tim, Stephanie, and Stephen give us a glimpse into their ongoing battles to find purpose and joy as they live each day with chronic illnesses. Their stories will encourage other young adults likewise struggling, and equip their friends and family to better understand their daily struggles.
Melanoma, the word strikes fear into the hearer, especially when it is a diagnosis for a loved one. Al Groves, a beloved professor at Westminster Seminary and his wife, Libbie, heard these words and knew life would never be the same. In this conversation with Sharon Betters, Libbie shares the journey that her family experienced in the year after her husband Al’s diagnosis of terminal cancer. She offers her family’s story as a means of coming alongside of others who are struggling with cancer, God and grief, answering such questions as:How did you tell your children?Did you ever hit a wall where you felt you just couldn’t handle all the daily responsibilities of raising your children and caring for your husband?Al was a gifted author, beloved professor at Westminster Seminary. Did you ever question why such a gifted man who had so much more to offer had to die? What about lament? How important was and is your faith? How did it make a difference in the way you viewed this diagnosis?How did people help you?
We live in a culture that idolizes youth but no matter how hard we might try, we cannot escape the fact that unless we die young, each of us will experience aging. Is it possible to be “ever growing ever green” as we age? Is sixty really the new fifty? What does it mean to flourish in old age? What if we don’t have energy to do all those wonderful things we did when we were younger? When should we start preparing for old age? Is there anything glorious about growing old?In this free-flowing conversation Sharon Betters, age 70, asks Ruth Auffarth, age 88, these questions and more. So grab a cup of coffee, a glass of iced tea, sit back and listen in as two old friends share thoughts about what it means to grow old with grace and dignity.In the book co-authored by Susan Hunt and Sharon Betters, Aging with Grace, Flourishing in an Anti-Aging Culture, each chapter ends with a story-teller who is at least seventy years old. Each woman gives the readers a glimpse into what aging with grace looks like for her. One of those storytellers is Ruth Auffarth. In a five-minute video for the companion series Aging with Grace, Ask an Older Woman, Ruth answered the question: What two life disciplines helped prepare you for aging?
Pastor Bob Allums, husband and father, learned at thirty-two years of age that he faced the battle of his life against throat and mouth cancer. The possibility that the disease and treatment would destroy his ability to speak, to preach and teach was real. Before the diagnosis, Bob struggled with overwhelming depression, a darkness whose roots he could not identify. In this rich conversation with Chuck Betters, Bob steps back into those frightening days and describes how that period transformed him and helped make him into the joyful man he is today. This far reaching conversation touches on the heart of suffering and will touch your heart with the help and hope of Jesus.
On October 2, 2006, Marie Monville’s husband entered an Amish schoolhouse in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and shot ten young girls, killing five of them before turning the gun on himself. The event shocked the nation and left many staggering under the weight of such tragedy and evil. How does a person find hope in such darkness? How does the wife of the man who perpetrated such horror rebuild her life and the lives of her children? How could she ever forgive her husband? How did the Amish community react to Marie and her family? Listen as Marie’s story reveals what she learned about forgiveness and that one Light can still shine in the midnights of life.
David The Shepherd WarriorThis series focuses on the life of David. Why should we study the life of this man? David’s story is a picture of Messianic typology. We see in David the struggle against the flesh that is so typical in all of us. And we will see what a man after God’s own heart looks like. We start in 1 Samuel 16 where the Israelites cry for a king. It is a period of hopeless humanism, void of leadership. The people choose a man based on outward appearance, electability and sound bites. They chose Saul, tall, dark and handsome. Saul was a good looking man, but he lacked character. He was prone to hot tempered outbursts, bouts of intense depression and capable of incredible evil, jealousy, control, obsession with fame and even murder. God gives them Saul. But waiting in the wings is a shepherd boy, David.
David The Shepherd WarriorThis series focuses on the life of David. Why should we study the life of this man? David’s story is a picture of Messianic typology. We see in David the struggle against the flesh that is so typical in all of us. And we will see what a man after God’s own heart looks like. We start in 1 Samuel 16 where the Israelites cry for a king. It is a period of hopeless humanism, void of leadership. The people choose a man based on outward appearance, electability and sound bites. They chose Saul, tall, dark and handsome. Saul was a good looking man, but he lacked character. He was prone to hot tempered outbursts, bouts of intense depression and capable of incredible evil, jealousy, control, obsession with fame and even murder. God gives them Saul. But waiting in the wings is a shepherd boy, David.
David The Shepherd WarriorThis series focuses on the life of David. Why should we study the life of this man? David’s story is a picture of Messianic typology. We see in David the struggle against the flesh that is so typical in all of us. And we will see what a man after God’s own heart looks like. We start in 1 Samuel 16 where the Israelites cry for a king. It is a period of hopeless humanism, void of leadership. The people choose a man based on outward appearance, electability and sound bites. They chose Saul, tall, dark and handsome. Saul was a good looking man, but he lacked character. He was prone to hot tempered outbursts, bouts of intense depression and capable of incredible evil, jealousy, control, obsession with fame and even murder. God gives them Saul. But waiting in the wings is a shepherd boy, David.
This series focuses on the life of David. Why should we study the life of this man? David’s story is a picture of Messianic typology. We see in David the struggle against the flesh that is so typical in all of us. And we will see what a man after God’s own heart looks like. We start in 1 Samuel 16 where the Israelites cry for a king. It is a period of hopeless humanism, void of leadership. The people choose a man based on outward appearance, electability and sound bites. They chose Saul, tall, dark and handsome. Saul was a good looking man, but he lacked character. He was prone to hot tempered outbursts, bouts of intense depression and capable of incredible evil, jealousy, control, obsession with fame and even murder. God gives them Saul. But waiting in the wings is a shepherd boy, David.
A little boy, abandoned by his mother, shifted from one abuse-filled foster home to another; bullied not only by kids but by some of his foster parents, beaten and sexually assaulted by numerous people tasked with being his protectors. How does this little boy find a way to grow into a man who trusts God and offers help and hope to others through his story?In this interview, Bob Petterson opens up about the terrifying loneliness of abandonment, the pain of abuse, and the memories of hateful abuse at the hands of foster parents. Is there any hope for such a child? Bob says there is, and lives out that hope every day.This story is for anyone who has experienced childhood abandonment, abuse, hatred, and separation from siblings. Yet it is also for anyone who longs to know that in this messy, broken world, there really is hope of redemption and purpose for those shattered by the abuse of others.
A diagnosis of dementia in a loved one is frightening. Many spouses and family members face a “long goodbye” as they walk this pathway with their loved ones. In this interview Sharon Betters asks Dr. John Dunlop, author of Finding Grace in the Face of Dementia, to define dementia, the stages of dementia, what it is like to care for a loved one with dementia, and more. Dr. Dunlop’s compassion and passion for equipping and caring for older people comes through in his responses. He reminds us that every person is made in the image of God and that truth needs to be the grid through which we view those with dementia and the kind of care we give.
Children raised in the same family sometimes grow up with very different responses to life. Such is the story of Julie Malone and her beautiful daughter, Allie. Julie and her husband, Tim loved their lives as parents and Tim’s ministry to teens. But their idyllic life would take a turn into a foreign land of broken places. Julie says, “I am very thankful for my childhood as I came to know and love the Lord as my savior at a very young age. I really never knew a day without Jesus in my life. I married Tim, and we had 4 beautiful little girls. We were raising our kids to know Jesus. We were a close family. Life was good. But Tim and I often wondered how and when real suffering would enter our lives. For us, it didn’t come in one huge blow. For us it came in pieces. A little ding here, and a little ding there – until the repeated dinging of the chisel brought true hardship that often made me feel weary and worn, and well…broken. And much of this brokenness focused on our journey of parenting our oldest daughter Ally through her teenage years.”You may not have a prodigal child, but no doubt you know someone who does, someone who is fearful for their child but maybe ashamed and embarrassed. Parents of hurting children immediately blame themselves, thinking, surely, we could have done something different. Parents of prodigal children need their friends, family and church family to rally around them and Julie gives us a glimpse into how.
Infertility, ministry conflict, chronic pain – experiencing just one of these life crises can be all consuming. But all of them at the same time – and more? How does a woman not just survive, but thrive? Glenna Marshall, author of The Promise is His Presence, Why God is Always Enough, joins Sharon Betters to share her journey that has taken her to some very broken places. But as you will hear, she discovered priceless treasures as she struggled to make sense of it all.
No matter your season of life, wherever God has placed you is your platform for glorifying Him. But sometimes, it’s really, really hard to see the rutted, muddy pathways of life as an opportunity to reflect Jesus, isn’t it? If you are in such a place, this special edition of the Help & Hope podcast is for you. Over the summer we held Beyond the Book, Ask the Author as a free virtual live event where guests could submit questions to our guest author. Vaneetha Risner, one of our guest authors, spent an hour with us, answering questions about her book, Walking Through Fire, A Memoir of Loss and Redemption.I know few people who have suffered as much as Vaneetha has. the loss of her son due to a doctor's error, childhood polio and years of bullying, multiple hospitalizations, her husband's unfaithfulness and an unwanted divorce, losing 4 babies through miscarriage - AND YET - Vaneetha's life and message offers us a purpose and peace, even when all seems lost. Vaneetha is a seasoned life warrior whose heart is to come alongside other weary women who long for hope in the darkest places of life.You can also listen to the Help & Hope podcasts with Vaneetha:How Does God Meet Us In Suffering - Vaneetha Risner
When forgiveness feels impossible!
“I forgive you.” Simple words, and liberating ones – but hard, too. You may think the betrayal you have experienced is in the realm of the unforgivable. Wendy Alsup understands. She experienced severe church conflict while serving in the women’s ministry at Mars Hill Church, followed by an unwanted divorce. The losses of betrayal eventually forced her to move from her home in Seattle, leaving behind deep friendships and everything familiar to her two sons. Her understanding of forgiveness did not come easily for her so she does not sugarcoat the struggles she experienced.
In this special Help & Hope Podcast, Wendy joins us for our summer Beyond the Book – Ask the Author series. Invited guests submitted questions for Wendy, and her answers reveal deep wisdom and understanding for those struggling with the concept of forgiveness. Some of the questions Wendy answers:
· How do you get past the astonishment, hurt, and dislike for a person you cared for, had a relationship with, and enjoyed when they have repeatedly turned against you?
· How do you "move on" in forgiveness when you still have to interact with people who hurt you?
· After you left Mars Hill, lots of your friends stayed. Did you pursue them to tell them your story, your reasons for leaving in an attempt to get them to leave, too? How do you let go of the need to protect your reputation or do you?
· When someone asks you to forgive them for an offense, does it mean that you will never bring up the offense again?
· Through conflict our church leadership mishandled, a lot of friends and I lost our strong church family – none of us feels as though we will ever find such a loving community again. How do you venture back into church life when you feel so cynical?
· How does understanding ambiguous loss help us better understand our own grief over broken relationships, especially when we are powerless to effect any change in the circumstances?
· And many more.
Listen and please pass on this important conversation.
You can also listen to these Help & Hope podcasts with Wendy:
Companionship in Suffering – Wendy Alsup
I Forgive You – Wendy Alsup
The Catholics call her the Mother of God. In protest, the Protestants ignore her. Mary, mother of Jesus. Who is she? What kind of woman did God choose to bear the Messiah? Was she really perfect, without sin? In this series, Dr. Betters gives the listener not only the historical context of Mary’s life, but challenges all to learn from the life lessons this woman has for each of us.
The Catholics call her the Mother of God. In protest, the Protestants ignore her. Mary, mother of Jesus. Who is she? What kind of woman did God choose to bear the Messiah? Was she really perfect, without sin? In this series, Dr. Betters gives the listener not only the historical context of Mary’s life, but challenges all to learn from the life lessons this woman has for each of us.
The Catholics call her the Mother of God. In protest, the Protestants ignore her. Mary, mother of Jesus. Who is she? What kind of woman did God choose to bear the Messiah? Was she really perfect, without sin? In this series, Dr. Betters gives the listener not only the historical context of Mary’s life, but challenges all to learn from the life lessons this woman has for each of us.
The Catholics call her the Mother of God. In protest, the Protestants ignore her. Mary, mother of Jesus. Who is she? What kind of woman did God choose to bear the Messiah? Was she really perfect, without sin? In this series, Dr. Betters gives the listener not only the historical context of Mary’s life, but challenges all to learn from the life lessons this woman has for each of us.
Some stats state that 50% of married couples in churches have experienced sexual betrayal in their marriage. When a wife learns about her husband’s sexual betrayal, in the blink of an eye, a bomb detonates and blows up her marriage. The very foundations on which she built her home shatter and she can barely breathe, let alone find her way out from under the rubble. Ellen Dykas has walked with hundreds, maybe even thousands of women as they have struggled with sexual betrayal and offers hope from years of helping these hurting women. In this conversation with co-hosts Sharon Betters and Jane Anne Wilson, Ellen’s tender heart and passion for offering hope to women whose husbands have betrayed them flows. She encourages listeners to know they are not responsible for their husband’s sin, and that they do not carry shame. She is particularly concerned that they understand the need for self-care. This topic is too deep for a half-hour conversation so we hope, whether you are fresh in facing sexual betrayal or have secretly carried the devastation for years you will get Ellen’s FREE books: Jesus and Your Unwanted Journey: Wives Finding Comfort After Sexual Betrayal. One is a participant’s guide and the other is a Leader’s Guide. These resources are for women who need help applying the gospel to their marriage in response their husband’s sexual sin. But they are also for those who love them and want to help. You may never have experienced sexual betrayal in your marriage. This conversation will equip you to walk with a friend who has. These books are resources for you and your friend.
Pam Benton started noticing small changes in her pastor husband. Though Wilson had retired, he had agreed to serve as interim pastor in another church for eighteen months. Eighteen months turned into five years. Pam’s concerns grew when Wilson started using notes for his sermons. Since both of their mothers had Alzheimer’s, Pam and Wilson did not hesitate to get their doctor’s opinion, hoping for a simple answer, but knowing Alzheimer’s was not unlikely.
In this conversation with Sharon Betters, Pam describes how a diagnosis has changed the direction of their plans for retirement, how important it is to get an early diagnosis and the way the Lord has grown her faith. Pam’s children told her that in spite of a lifetime of ministry, this season of life is perhaps the most important as she models for them how to love their dad well in what many call the long goodbye.
In the book co-authored by Susan Hunt and Sharon Betters, Aging with Grace, Flourishing in an Anti-Aging Culture, each chapter ends with a story-teller who is at least seventy years old. Each woman gives the readers a glimpse into what aging with grace looks like for her. One of those storytellers is Pam Benton. In a five-minute video for the companion series Aging with Grace, Ask an Older Woman, Pam answered the question:
What two life disciplines prepare you for this season?
Thousands of families quietly and lovingly care for children with special needs. Though the days are often long and hard, many find joy in their calling and would not trade their calling for anything. Kara Dedert and her family reflect this joy in the ordinary and extraordinary moments of caring for their son and brother, Calvin. In her introduction to her blog, Kara writes, “You’ll find me writing about the good, gritty, gracy parts of faith, family and home. I’m married to Darryl and we have five kids. One of our sons has severe disabilities from Zika. It’s broken our hearts and also filled us with hope – I write about that, too.
We’re grateful for Kara’s willingness to not only write about her journey, but to talk with Sharon Betters about the everyday struggles and joys of caring for Calvin and how his life has drawn his entire family deeper into the heart of Jesus.
Connect with Kara at karadedert.com
There is so much we do not know about mental illness, including deep depression that results in the inability to even get out of bed, let alone function in daily life. Many more people than we realize struggle every day to do the next thing with their wills because sadness, a lack of joy, and purpose reign in their hearts. They have tried everything to get better but nothing helps. Add to this equation the spouse who watches her husband slide into a pit of despair with no explanation. Sadly, Christians often identify lack of faith or discipline as the root problem. Even the patient suffers from shame and guilt when the root cause is actually a physical and chemical disconnect in the body. In this frank conversation, Jenni Holder describes how her faith-filled husband suddenly experienced repeated panic attacks that were the first signs he had a mental illness that could not be healed with more faith. Jenni and her husband have agreed that they need to share their story as they are experiencing it so that others on similar pathways will know they are not alone and there is hope. With her husband’s permission, Jenni takes us into the inner sanctum of their marriage and their ongoing battle to find a steady path for their family.
Imagine you have one child, a beautiful daughter whose life reflects her deep love for Jesus. You and your wife work for a Christian organization, offering the help and hope of the Gospel, seeing every day as an opportunity to encourage and love others. And then you get that phone call that is every parent’s nightmare. Your only child, 17 years old, has been in a fatal car accident. Fast forward twenty years and your wife gets a diagnosis that not only will take her life but turn her last years into a place of great anguish. How would you respond? Ellis Goldstein had to answer these questions, the most recent, when he learned his wife’s diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, better known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. This thoughtful conversation between two men who share the grief of losing a child will challenge listeners with their responses to grief and Ellis’ response to the illness and death of his beloved Colleen.
Ellis Goldstein is a Jewish believer who met his Messiah at Penn State University. He has a Bachelor of Architecture and a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies. Since 1973 he has served as a staff member with Cru, the US ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ and has lived on personally raised support. Ellis’ wife, Colleen, was also a Cru staff member until her death in 2018.
His first 18 years of ministry were in New England where he helped pioneer new campus ministries. He also served in a leadership capacity for the northeast helping staff members raise their personal support. Since 1991 he has been the Director of Ministry Partner Development, and is responsible for the support development for Cru staff members serving in the United States and internationally.
Ellis has trained over 15,000 missionaries with Cru and other mission agencies in the United States and overseas. His driving passion is to equip and inspire Christian workers to be Christ-centered, fully funded and financially faithful. He regularly consults with Christian organizations to help them create fund development training for their missionaries.
On average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. During one year, this equates to more than 10 million women and men. About 2 in 4 women have experienced some form of physical violence by an intimate partner. This includes a range of behaviors (e.g. slapping, shoving, pushing) and in some cases might not be considered "domestic violence." These statistics do not include abuse of men. These are just a few of domestic abuse statistics on the National Statistics Domestic Violence website. Many more people do not report abuse. If these stats are true, it’s likely 1 in 4 women sitting in our church pews have experienced severe physical violence. Sadly, the place where wounded women should feel safest – the church – is the one place they are too ashamed to be transparent. In this informative but at times disturbing interview, Darby Strickland draws from years of not only studying the impact of abuse but her interaction through counseling abused women. Darby is passionate about equipping local churches to be a safe place for the abused. To go deeper, you can order her newest book: Is it Abuse? A Biblical Guide to Identifying Domestic Abuse and Helping Victims
Well meaning people sometimes exhort adopted children to be thankful for the many privileges they have as a result of having a “forever family.” This resource encourages that gratitude, but also acknowledges coexisting with a grateful heart is often a broken heart, a result of feeling abandoned by their birth parents. In keeping with our goal to produce and distribute resources that address life crises that are difficult to discuss, as well as how to help those experiencing them, we are grateful to offer this compelling interview that is designed to equip adoptive parents and adopted children to better understand the “primal wound” that some adopted children experience. In this candid interview, Dan and Laura Betters share their thoughts and plans for helping their adopted daughter process the grief and disappointment she might experience as she better understands adoption. Lisa Adams-Reese, a seasoned adoptive mother and woman who helps place adopted children with their families, offers her own experiences and wisdom that will free parents to intentionally develop an honest, safe place for their children to express any sorrow, anxiety, or feelings of abandonment. We know you will be encouraged and inspired by their stories.
Each year about 50,000 children die in the United States. While a profound loss for parents, what about their siblings? Doug MacGray, was eleven years old when he lost his sixteen-year-old brother, Ricky. How does an eleven-year-old grieve? How is the grief journey of a sibling different than the grief journey of parents? In this sometimes emotional conversation, Doug shares with Dr. Chuck F. Betters some of the ways his brother’s death affected him and how grief for a child is different than the grief of an adult. It’s our hope that Doug’s story will help parents understand the grief of their children a little better and also encourage those who have lost siblings at a young age.
Rachel, founder of the Brave Mamas online community, validates bereaved parents in their pain, encourages them as they adjust to their new normal, and provides advice for sharing your loss with family, caring for your spouse, and recovering a postpartum body. She is a mother who lost 5 children, yet filled with hope.
In 2016 about 20% of US adults had chronic pain – that’s about 50,000,000. Eight percent of those adults had high-impact pain – that’s about 20,000,000 people with debilitating chronic pain. People suffering from high -impact pain often suffer in isolation and without much understanding or sympathy. They don’t have a cast or any visible sign of injury, yet their pain changes the way they live life. In this Help & Hope podcast, Dr. Betters talks with Bill Condon, who knows what it is to not only experience chronic pain with no hope of healing, but also the devastation of the losses that often accompanies chronic pain. Bill explains how depression took him into such a dark place he no longer wanted to live. Yet in the middle of debilitating pain, Bill’s story is one of hope. If you or someone you love suffers from any kind of ongoing pain, Bill’s story will encourage you, and help you find a way to walk by faith in the middle of the pain and/or come alongside someone who lives with chronic pain.
In 2016 about 20% of US adults had chronic pain – that’s about 50,000,000. Eight percent of those adults had high-impact pain – that’s about 20,000,000 people with debilitating chronic pain. People suffering from high -impact pain often suffer in isolation and without much understanding or sympathy. They don’t have a cast or any visible sign of injury, yet their pain changes the way they live life. In this Help & Hope podcast, Dr. Betters talks with Bill Condon, who knows what it is to not only experience chronic pain with no hope of healing, but also the devastation of the losses that often accompanies chronic pain. Bill explains how depression took him into such a dark place he no longer wanted to live. Yet in the middle of debilitating pain, Bill’s story is one of hope. If you or someone you love suffers from any kind of ongoing pain, Bill’s story will encourage you, and help you find a way to walk by faith in the middle of the pain and/or come alongside someone who lives with chronic pain.
Where does a dad go for comfort when he is grieving a miscarriage?
We seldom hear this question, let alone even think about the need if we have never experienced a miscarriage. Eric Schumacher, author of Ours: Biblical Comfort for Men Grieving Miscarriage talks to Sharon Betters about the grief a dad feels when his wife has a miscarriage. He addresses questions like, how does a dad help his wife, what about feeling the miscarriage is because of personal sin, and how to confront the fear of the possibility of another miscarriage. Eric and his wife experienced five miscarriages so he brings a depth of understanding and empathy for men who are surprised by their own sorrow. This conversation will offer biblical comfort and practical support to men processing a miscarriage.
There will always be a struggle between good and evil in our lives. The godly kings of Israel allowed compromise in their lives which resulted in a downward spiral through generations. The consequence of their sin is seen in their children and grandchildren. Are you willing to confess, renounce, and turn away from little areas of compromise in your life? The lives of your children and grandchildren may be at stake.
There will always be a struggle between good and evil in our lives. The godly kings of Israel allowed compromise in their lives which resulted in a downward spiral through generations. The consequence of their sin is seen in their children and grandchildren. Are you willing to confess, renounce, and turn away from little areas of compromise in your life? The lives of your children and grandchildren may be at stake.
There will always be a struggle between good and evil in our lives. The godly kings of Israel allowed compromise in their lives which resulted in a downward spiral through generations. The consequence of their sin is seen in their children and grandchildren. Are you willing to confess, renounce, and turn away from little areas of compromise in your life? The lives of your children and grandchildren may be at stake.
There will always be a struggle between good and evil in our lives. The godly kings of Israel allowed compromise in their lives which resulted in a downward spiral through generations. The consequence of their sin is seen in their children and grandchildren. Are you willing to confess, renounce, and turn away from little areas of compromise in your life? The lives of your children and grandchildren may be at stake.
There will always be a struggle between good and evil in our lives. The godly kings of Israel allowed compromise in their lives which resulted in a downward spiral through generations. The consequence of their sin is seen in their children and grandchildren. Are you willing to confess, renounce, and turn away from little areas of compromise in your life? The lives of your children and grandchildren may be at stake.
There will always be a struggle between good and evil in our lives. The godly kings of Israel allowed compromise in their lives which resulted in a downward spiral through generations. The consequence of their sin is seen in their children and grandchildren. Are you willing to confess, renounce, and turn away from little areas of compromise in your life? The lives of your children and grandchildren may be at stake.
Dr. Mikala Albertson aimed to be exemplary in all she did – marriage, motherhood, her career – but her seemingly picture-perfect life began crumbling when she realized her doctor husband was addicted to drugs and nothing was perfect after all. Listen in as Mikala shares her story of striving and suffering in the hunt for perfection and found that embracing her gritty, messy, complicated, tough ordinary life led her on a journey of healing, redemption, and renewal. In this conversation with Sharon Betters, Mikala encourages listeners that disappointments and broken places are opportunities to finding beauty in the rubble.
In this scripture-packed series, Dr. Betters discusses regeneration, effectual calling, conversion, justification, adoption, sanctification, perseverance and glorification. Come along on this journey and find great joy in discovering many treasures in your journey along your spiritual birthline. Peter’s spiritual journey is a clear picture of a man intrigued by the Messiah, but not converted. In this message we watch as God removes Peter’s spiritual blindness. Peter’s journey helps us see our own spiritual birthlines unfold.
In this scripture-packed series, Dr. Betters discusses regeneration, effectual calling, conversion, justification, adoption, sanctification, perseverance and glorification. Come along on this journey and find great joy in discovering many treasures in your journey along your spiritual birthline. Peter’s spiritual journey is a clear picture of a man intrigued by the Messiah, but not converted. In this message we watch as God removes Peter’s spiritual blindness. Peter’s journey helps us see our own spiritual birthlines unfold.
In this scripture-packed series, Dr. Betters discusses regeneration, effectual calling, conversion, justification, adoption, sanctification, perseverance and glorification. Come along on this journey and find great joy in discovering many treasures in your journey along your spiritual birthline. Peter’s spiritual journey is a clear picture of a man intrigued by the Messiah, but not converted. In this message we watch as God removes Peter’s spiritual blindness. Peter’s journey helps us see our own spiritual birthlines unfold.
In this scripture-packed series, Dr. Betters discusses regeneration, effectual calling, conversion, justification, adoption, sanctification, perseverance and glorification. Come along on this journey and find great joy in discovering many treasures in your journey along your spiritual birthline. Peter’s spiritual journey is a clear picture of a man intrigued by the Messiah, but not converted. In this message we watch as God removes Peter’s spiritual blindness. Peter’s journey helps us see our own spiritual birthlines unfold.
In this scripture-packed series, Dr. Betters discusses regeneration, effectual calling, conversion, justification, adoption, sanctification, perseverance and glorification. Come along on this journey and find great joy in discovering many treasures in your journey along your spiritual birthline. Peter’s spiritual journey is a clear picture of a man intrigued by the Messiah, but not converted. In this message we watch as God removes Peter’s spiritual blindness. Peter’s journey helps us see our own spiritual birthlines unfold.
In this scripture-packed series, Dr. Betters discusses regeneration, effectual calling, conversion, justification, adoption, sanctification, perseverance and glorification. Come along on this journey and find great joy in discovering many treasures in your journey along your spiritual birthline. Peter’s spiritual journey is a clear picture of a man intrigued by the Messiah, but not converted. In this message we watch as God removes Peter’s spiritual blindness. Peter’s journey helps us see our own spiritual birthlines unfold.
In this scripture-packed series, Dr. Betters discusses regeneration, effectual calling, conversion, justification, adoption, sanctification, perseverance and glorification. Come along on this journey and find great joy in discovering many treasures in your journey along your spiritual birthline. Peter’s spiritual journey is a clear picture of a man intrigued by the Messiah, but not converted. In this message we watch as God removes Peter’s spiritual blindness. Peter’s journey helps us see our own spiritual birthlines unfold.
In this scripture-packed series, Dr. Betters discusses regeneration, effectual calling, conversion, justification, adoption, sanctification, perseverance and glorification. Come along on this journey and find great joy in discovering many treasures in your journey along your spiritual birthline. Peter’s spiritual journey is a clear picture of a man intrigued by the Messiah, but not converted. In this message we watch as God removes Peter’s spiritual blindness. Peter’s journey helps us see our own spiritual birthlines unfold.
In this scripture-packed series, Dr. Betters discusses regeneration, effectual calling, conversion, justification, adoption, sanctification, perseverance and glorification. Come along on this journey and find great joy in discovering many treasures in your journey along your spiritual birthline. Peter’s spiritual journey is a clear picture of a man intrigued by the Messiah, but not converted. In this message we watch as God removes Peter’s spiritual blindness. Peter’s journey helps us see our own spiritual birthlines unfold.
In this scripture-packed series, Dr. Betters discusses regeneration, effectual calling, conversion, justification, adoption, sanctification, perseverance and glorification. Come along on this journey and find great joy in discovering many treasures in your journey along your spiritual birthline. Peter’s spiritual journey is a clear picture of a man intrigued by the Messiah, but not converted. In this message we watch as God removes Peter’s spiritual blindness. Peter’s journey helps us see our own spiritual birthlines unfold.
In this scripture-packed series, Dr. Betters discusses regeneration, effectual calling, conversion, justification, adoption, sanctification, perseverance and glorification. Come along on this journey and find great joy in discovering many treasures in your journey along your spiritual birthline. Peter’s spiritual journey is a clear picture of a man intrigued by the Messiah, but not converted. In this message we watch as God removes Peter’s spiritual blindness. Peter’s journey helps us see our own spiritual birthlines unfold.
In this scripture-packed series, Dr. Betters discusses regeneration, effectual calling, conversion, justification, adoption, sanctification, perseverance and glorification. Come along on this journey and find great joy in discovering many treasures in your journey along your spiritual birthline. Peter’s spiritual journey is a clear picture of a man intrigued by the Messiah, but not converted. In this message we watch as God removes Peter’s spiritual blindness. Peter’s journey helps us see our own spiritual birthlines unfold.
Is it ever ok to question God’s love or wisdom, especially when you love and serve Him but experience tremendous loss? Dr. Frank A. James, President and Professor of Historical Theology at Missio Seminary in Pennsylvania joins Dr. Chuck F. Betters to talk about this very question. Frank’s story of loss started when his younger brother, Kelly, was trapped in a snow cave on Mt. Hood and an unyielding blizzard prevented rescue. News outlets from all over the world covered the fear and anguish of Frank’s family as they waited for news about Kelly. Frank describes the emotional roller coaster of hope, fear, confusion, despair and lament as they waited and then as they realized Kelly would not survive. As a professor, author, and seminary president, how is it possible Frank struggled with hard theological questions about suffering and lament. Frank’s transparency will encourage you to better understand how God welcomes your questions and holds you tightly in His grip when you struggle to understand His purposes.
Have you ever been away from home, and all you wanted was to go home to your familiar surroundings, your family – your bed? You feel homesick. In this conversation with Sharon Betters, Elyse Fitzpatrick describes how a difficult time in her life resulted in her longing for something more. She concluded she was homesick for heaven. Elyse helps us better understand how a biblical view of heaven can be a source of great comfort when life turns upside down. She encourages us to learn more about our eternal destination, just as we would if we were planning a visit to another country. Rather than eating grapes and being fanned by angels during an eternal worship service, Elyse paints a picture of a perfected earth, a real, physical place that we will explore and enjoy with real bodies in a world where there is no more sickness, death or tears.
Most of us can admit to seasons of struggling with unwanted thoughts, perhaps rooted in fear of the unknown, a broken relationship, a horrible past of abuse. For some people, unwanted thoughts are a nagging discomfort. Others experience them as a brutal and invisible form of torture. Thoughts spiraling out of control can lead to sleepless nights, uncomfortable relationships and wasted emotional energy. Are you distracted by racing or anxious thoughts? Distressed by intrusive or irrational thoughts? Struggling with sinful or untrue thoughts? You may feel trapped in your own head, but in this conversation between Esther Smith and Sharon Betters, you’re going to realize God has given you many different ways to calm your mind and live at peace. Esther is a licensed counselor who specializes in helping people who experience trauma, anxiety, and physical illness. She has also authored a devotional on Chronic Illness and is coauthor of The Whole Life. Listen as Esther introduces us to some of the twelve strategies for changing unwanted thoughts she unpacks in her book, A Still and Quiet Mind.
Pornography – do you know someone who is struggling with this particular sin? Unfortunately, it’s likely that you do, but you may not know how to help. In these two conversations host Dr. Chuck Betters along with Rebekah Hannah (Director of Anchored Hope Biblical Counseling), talk with counselors Deepak Reju and Jonathan Holmes who provide biblical strategies for guiding a fellow believer toward recovery. This worldwide crisis is destroying families, marriages and individuals – pornography. But what happens when it comes into your own home or the heart of someone you love? Jonathan Holmes and Deepak have co-authored two books on pornography: Rescue Plan and Rescue Skills. They are both biblical counselors and draw on their own research and experience as biblical counselors to offer concrete information and guidance on how to help pornography users in diverse circumstances to overcome addiction. Be sure to listen to Parts 1 & 2.
Pornography – do you know someone who is struggling with this particular sin? Unfortunately, it’s likely that you do, but you may not know how to help. In these two conversations host Dr. Chuck Betters along with Rebekah Hannah (Director of Anchored Hope Biblical Counseling), talk with counselors Deepak Reju and Jonathan Holmes who provide biblical strategies for guiding a fellow believer toward recovery. This worldwide crisis is destroying families, marriages and individuals – pornography. But what happens when it comes into your own home or the heart of someone you love? Jonathan Holmes and Deepak have co-authored two books on pornography: Rescue Plan and Rescue Skills. They are both biblical counselors and draw on their own research and experience as biblical counselors to offer concrete information and guidance on how to help pornography users in diverse circumstances to overcome addiction. Be sure to listen to Parts 1 & 2.
A courageous woman shares her lifelong struggle in the grip of the lies of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Though those struggling with disorder are typically thought of as, "someone who washes their hands repetitively," some people struggling with OCD have other rituals, and some merely struggle secretly with their thoughts. OCD is a debilitating disease that affects millions of Americans, and despite this, it is believed less than 10% seek treatment. This interview provides a look at the many different faces of OCD and how one face in particular, Gail, benefited from continued healing due to increasing knowledge of the disorder and her faith.
Nearly aborted, graciously adopted, and later abandoned, Lori Sealy has traveled the road of atheism and lived a life of autism. Lori was diagnosed with Autism as an adult, and not long after that diagnosis, learned her son had autism as well. Lori is a classical pianist and songwriter whose music gives a transparent view into the intimate struggles of faith and life that Lori experiences.
In this interview, parents of a young man who has autism ask Lori the questions burning in the hearts of other parents with high-functioning children that struggle every day with the "thorn of autism."
This is a powerful and rich conversation that will help parents better understand their children, and how to help them find their way in a sometimes confusing and scary world.
Travel with Lori on our life journey through her blog or check out her website where you can also learn more about her music and contact information for booking Lori for an event.
Bryan and his wife say the diagnosis of severe autism for their son Matthew confronted them with the reality that the future they had planned would never come. In this conversation, Bryan touches on how he and his wife went into survival mode, how he initially thought they could “fix” his son, the spiritual struggles they experienced, and the impact their son Matthew had on their other children and their marriage. Though their journey has been challenging, Bryan offers help and hope to anyone experiencing upheaval through circumstances beyond their control.
Are you tired of all the parenting books full of strategic checklists, how-to advice and quick tips? While some of the books are actually really helpful, Christina Fox, Sharon Betters and young mom Melissa Weisenfels talk through what it means to parent through the grid of how our heavenly father parents us, His children. They touch on questions like:
How can a better understanding of God’s character, i.e. His consistency, discipline, patience, provision, unconditional love and even boundaries give us a roadmap for helping our children navigate the comparison trap, rebellion against boundaries, and more. But they also talk about their own feelings of failure and how to live with a broken heart when children reject their faith. Christina encourages us that as God’s beloved creatures, we bear His image—that is, we show others who He is as we glorify Him. Is anything more important to pass on to our children than this?
A child suffers multiple forms of abuse from her father from the time of being a little girl to a young woman. Is there any hope for not just surviving but thriving? Jennifer Greenberg proclaims there is. Jennifer knows the isolation and grief of abuse at the hands of her church-going father. In this conversation with Sharon Betters, Jenn doesn’t flinch in talking through how she wanted to kill herself when she was 15 because her father’s abuse intensified during her adolescence. She takes us along on her journey toward healing and purpose, addressing such questions as… Why doesn’t an abuse victim speak up sooner? What are the residual issues of abuse into adulthood? What about forgiveness? Not only is Jenn a wife, mother, and composer, she authored Not Forsaken, A Life After Abuse and offers other abuse victims help through many resources on her website.
How do we build a legacy of faith and how do we ensure that we pass that on to our children, grandchildren and that our faith becomes a tradition passed on throughout our family line? Building a Spiritual Legacy is a study of the book of Psalms.
How do we build a legacy of faith and how do we ensure that we pass that on to our children, grandchildren and that our faith becomes a tradition passed on throughout our family line? Building a Spiritual Legacy is a study of the book of Psalms.
How do we build a legacy of faith and how do we ensure that we pass that on to our children, grandchildren and that our faith becomes a tradition passed on throughout our family line? Building a Spiritual Legacy is a study of the book of Psalms.
How do we build a legacy of faith and how do we ensure that we pass that on to our children, grandchildren and that our faith becomes a tradition passed on throughout our family line? Building a Spiritual Legacy is a study of the book of Psalms.
How do we build a legacy of faith and how do we ensure that we pass that on to our children, grandchildren and that our faith becomes a tradition passed on throughout our family line? Building a Spiritual Legacy is a study of the book of Psalms.
How do we build a legacy of faith and how do we ensure that we pass that on to our children, grandchildren and that our faith becomes a tradition passed on throughout our family line? Building a Spiritual Legacy is a study of the book of Psalms.
How do we build a legacy of faith and how do we ensure that we pass that on to our children, grandchildren and that our faith becomes a tradition passed on throughout our family line? Building a Spiritual Legacy is a study of the book of Psalms.
How do we build a legacy of faith and how do we ensure that we pass that on to our children, grandchildren and that our faith becomes a tradition passed on throughout our family line? Building a Spiritual Legacy is a study of the book of Psalms.
How do we build a legacy of faith and how do we ensure that we pass that on to our children, grandchildren and that our faith becomes a tradition passed on throughout our family line? Building a Spiritual Legacy is a study of the book of Psalms.
How do we build a legacy of faith and how do we ensure that we pass that on to our children, grandchildren and that our faith becomes a tradition passed on throughout our family line? Building a Spiritual Legacy is a study of the book of Psalms.
How do we build a legacy of faith and how do we ensure that we pass that on to our children, grandchildren and that our faith becomes a tradition passed on throughout our family line? Building a Spiritual Legacy is a study of the book of Psalms.
How do we build a legacy of faith and how do we ensure that we pass that on to our children, grandchildren and that our faith becomes a tradition passed on throughout our family line? Building a Spiritual Legacy is a study of the book of Psalms.
How do we build a legacy of faith and how do we ensure that we pass that on to our children, grandchildren and that our faith becomes a tradition passed on throughout our family line? Building a Spiritual Legacy is a study of the book of Psalms.
Divorce. Some statisticians claim that 50% of marriages end in divorce. These mere numbers do not reveal the anguish in every home broken by divorce. In this transparent interview, Patti shares the shock and pain she felt when her husband divorced her. Listeners will hear how she told her children, and how she helped them deal with their own broken hearts, found the right attorney, processed the deceit and betrayal of losing her husband, and how she learned how to forgive. Her story will help those grappling with their own broken marriages, as well as better equip family and friends who are walking with someone in the midst of divorce.
Baseball great Darryl Strawberry readily acknowledges that people often think two things when they hear his name: Darryl was a great ball player, and Darryl lost it all to drugs. In this interview, Darryl and his wife Tracy share their story of drug addiction and how they found a pathway to restoration and wholeness. Their transparent responses to hard questions will challenge listeners to examine their own lives. It’s our hope that their redemption story will offer help and hope to others who are at the bottom of life, and ready to make choices that can only lead to dark places. Is there hope when getting and using drugs are the first things you think of in the morning, throughout the day, and the last thing before you close your eyes to sleep? In this moving interview, Darryl and Tracy Strawberry confidently exclaim, “Yes! There is help and hope!”
Is it possible to break free from drugs after a lifetime of addiction? Shelley Tribbitt says yes. After using drugs for over thirty years, Shelley broke free from the drugs, but then had to face the obstacle of the collateral damage that she had done to her family and friends. In this poignant interview, Shelley describes the devastation drug use brought on her family, including the loss of the custody of her children. Her daughter, Bay, joins the conversation, and describes how she reconciled with her mother, and why she never gave in to the temptation of drug use, even though they were readily available.
Drug use in our culture is an epidemic. It isn’t just teenagers who fall prey to this dangerous life choice. Shelley’s story reminds us that drugs know no age limits. We are also able to see that reconciliation with estranged family members is possible, though the pathway to reconciliation will be painful and often long.
Sherry and Mike Kendrick heard the word “terminal” when Mike was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer. Mike prayed he would live long enough to perform his son’s wedding ceremony. God granted him that desire and five years later, after his son’s wedding, Mike stepped from earth into heaven.
In this poignant conversation with Sharon Betters, a little over a year after the death of her beloved pastor husband, Sherry shares how Mike helped prepare her to be intentional in life after his absence. Sherry took practical steps to allow her room to lean into the pain but also to open her heart and hands to the treasures God gives through others. Her story will not only encourage widows but anyone who struggles with this foreign land of grief.
Before Mike’s death, Sherry and her husband talked with us about living with hope and terminal cancer in Living with Hope and Terminal Cancer.
Twenty-one surgeries by age thirteen. Years in the hospital. Verbal and physical bullying from schoolmates. Multiple miscarriages as a young wife. The death of a child. A debilitating progressive disease. Riveting pain. Abandonment. Unwanted divorce. How can one woman survive let alone thrive when she experiences such crashing waves of pain? In this conversation with Sharon Betters, Vaneetha Rendall Risner, author of The Scars that Have Shaped Me; How God meets us in Suffering, has experienced all these life crises and more. Rather than despair and giving up when wave after wave of loss hits, Vaneetha encourages us to allow suffering to draw us into the heart of God.
Preparation for retirement requires more than just financial planning. For most people, and especially for Christians, it comes with a host of other considerations—when to retire, where to live, and how to spend one’s time. Many find themselves asking, Is there a right way to retire? And what about the cultural perspective, “I’ve worked hard all my life, this time it’s all about me!” Is it ok to pursue pleasure that was unattainable before retirement? And what if unexpected changes in our health make it impossible to do what we want. How do we deal with disappointment and discontentment? In this conversation with Sharon Betters, Dr. John Dunlop addresses these questions and shares practical strategies for Christians as they approach their retirement years. John encourages listeners to start thinking about retirement while they are young and shares suggestions for determining how to intentionally live with purpose in this last season of life.
What do you do when you are suddenly navigating a life you didn’t sign up for? Lisa Appelo understands deeply. She’s experienced the raw emotions and uncertainty that come when everything falls apart. Lisa went to bed married and woke up a widow and single mom to seven children. She wrestled with impossible questions about her future–and then found life-changing answers that gave her the strength to move forward with true joy. In this conversation with Sharon Betters, Lisa explains how she found hope in gratitude and practical ways to fight fear. Lisa encourages us to understand wherever you are in life is not God’s Plan B but Chapter 2 where He will reshape your shattered heart – you will not only survive but can learn to thrive as you learn how to trust Him more each day.
What if your kind, gentle adult son started exhibiting bizarre behavior, so bizarre his wife got a restraining order and he ended up in prison? Our guest in this conversation, Robin, knows this terror as she lost her son little by little to an undiagnosed disease – Early Onset Dementia. Robin’s son, Justin, gradually changed from a kind, engaged husband, father and son into a man his family didn’t recognize. He lost his family and was imprisoned before doctors finally diagnosed him with frontotemporal dementia or young onset dementia. This is a heart-breaking story, but Robin offers light in the darkness.
How do you face each day after a diagnosis of ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease, knowing you will not survive longer than eighteen months – two years? Pastor Dale Meador joins Sharon and Chuck Betters to answer this question and more as he describes how each day reminds him he cannot beat this disease. He knows his time on this earth is short. But, for Dale, this disease has renewed his confidence in heaven and God’s perfect love. In this conversation, Dale gives us a glimpse into how he is not only preparing himself but also his family for his absence and much more. Dale’s natural joyful perspective on life comes through but he wants all of us to know his perspective does not minimize the deep grief and fear ALS patients experience. His desire in sharing his story is for others to experience the same help and hope of Jesus he experiences every day. We are so grateful for Dale’s willingness to offer help and hope not only to the one diagnosed with ALS but also to those who love them.
How do we build a legacy of faith and how do we ensure that we pass that on to our children, grandchildren and that our faith becomes a tradition passed on throughout our family line? Building a Spiritual Legacy is a study of the book of Psalms.
How do we build a legacy of faith and how do we ensure that we pass that on to our children, grandchildren and that our faith becomes a tradition passed on throughout our family line? Building a Spiritual Legacy is a study of the book of Psalms.
How do we build a legacy of faith and how do we ensure that we pass that on to our children, grandchildren and that our faith becomes a tradition passed on throughout our family line? Building a Spiritual Legacy is a study of the book of Psalms.
How do we build a legacy of faith and how do we ensure that we pass that on to our children, grandchildren and that our faith becomes a tradition passed on throughout our family line? Building a Spiritual Legacy is a study of the book of Psalms.
How do we build a legacy of faith and how do we ensure that we pass that on to our children, grandchildren and that our faith becomes a tradition passed on throughout our family line? Building a Spiritual Legacy is a study of the book of Psalms.
How do we build a legacy of faith and how do we ensure that we pass that on to our children, grandchildren and that our faith becomes a tradition passed on throughout our family line? Building a Spiritual Legacy is a study of the book of Psalms.
How do we build a legacy of faith and how do we ensure that we pass that on to our children, grandchildren and that our faith becomes a tradition passed on throughout our family line? Building a Spiritual Legacy is a study of the book of Psalms.
How do we build a legacy of faith and how do we ensure that we pass that on to our children, grandchildren and that our faith becomes a tradition passed on throughout our family line? Building a Spiritual Legacy is a study of the book of Psalms.
How do we build a legacy of faith and how do we ensure that we pass that on to our children, grandchildren and that our faith becomes a tradition passed on throughout our family line? Building a Spiritual Legacy is a study of the book of Psalms.
How do we build a legacy of faith and how do we ensure that we pass that on to our children, grandchildren and that our faith becomes a tradition passed on throughout our family line? Building a Spiritual Legacy is a study of the book of Psalms.
Mother - In - Law And Daughter - In - Law Relationships A Conversation With Barbara And Stacy Reaoch by Dr. Chuck Betters
Is singleness a gift or a curse? If you’re single because you never married, divorced or widowed - are you just in a waiting room, marking time until you meet the right person, or is singleness a place filled with opportunities you would not have if married? Is it wrong to pray for a spouse? How do you respond when well-meaning friends say hurtful things like, “I don’t understand why some guy hasn’t snatched up you – you’re so nice.” Sharon Betters and Jenilyn Swett, Director of Adult Ministries at Restoration Community Church (PCA) in St. Louis and author of Singleness, Living Faithfully, talk about the answers to these questions and much more in this Help & Hope podcast.
About one million babies world-wide die each year within 24 hours of birth. What if you knew from the time you were about five months pregnant that your baby would be one of those children? In this conversation, Sharon Betters talks to Diane Bansbach about what it was like for her to learn her much wanted baby girl, Amy, might not survive birth, let alone live outside her mother’s womb. Diane and Sharon share a few tears as Diane steps back into that season of loss and grief and tells Amy’s story in a way that offers hope and counsel to those facing a similar tragedy.
Many people have experienced betrayal, someone violating your trust perhaps by lying, cheating, some kind of abuse, putting their own interests ahead of yours when they promised otherwise. Betrayal affects every part of our hearts, often in ways we don’t understand at first. Some hurts we carry with us to the day we die, they are so deep and seem impossible to resolve. In this conversation with Sharon Betters, Wendy Alsup shares the impact of betrayal from her own life, not only through an unwanted divorce but also in her church life. But Wendy doesn’t leave us in the much of betrayal. Instead, she speaks frankly about the power of forgiveness. Wendy’s view of forgiveness is not stereotypical. Pulling examples from her own life, Wendy talks about the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation and how understanding ambiguous loss can help us as we grieve the losses of betrayal. Whether you are still gasping for air as the impact of betrayal hits you hard or you are carrying the wounds of broken relationships from years ago, this conversation will help guide you through the minefields of grief and loss.
Companionship in Suffering Help & Hope podcast: https://markinc.org/help-and-hope/companionship-in-suffering?rq=wendy%20alsup
Stephanie Hubach is no stranger to the challenges of raising a child with special needs. As a researcher in disability ministry and the mother of a son with Down Syndrome. Stephanie has spoken to thousands of parents about the struggles and the blessings of children who might be seen by our culture as dispensable, but in God’s world, they are indispensable and we lose many gifts and blessings when we do not recognize that what appears weak to us is actually, the strong. Steph’s passion for families raising children with disabilities moved her to write, Parenting and Disabilities – Abiding in God’s Presence as a daily devotional designed to turn hearts toward Jesus.
In this conversation, Sharon Betters and Steph speak as two friends, as they talk about the fact that a child with disabilities might be different but is not “less than”. Sharon and Steph discuss how hurtful comments from others might be a reflection of their own hearts and the need for each of us to learn more about the lives of those parenting children with disabilities. Listen in as Steph challenges us to consider how we respond when around a child with disabilities. Do we recognize them as deserving of the same love and care as a child without disabilities? Does your church enfold such families into the body of Christ? Steph shares how a biblical worldview of disabilities, that is, God’s view, will transform your heart.
The following sermons by Dr. Chuck F. Betters were preached as part of the God Will Make a Way series.
The following sermons by Dr. Chuck F. Betters were preached as part of the God Will Make a Way series.
The following sermons by Dr. Chuck F. Betters were preached as part of the God Will Make a Way series.
The following sermons by Dr. Chuck F. Betters were preached as part of the God Will Make a Way series.
The following sermons by Dr. Chuck F. Betters were preached as part of the God Will Make a Way series.
The following sermons by Dr. Chuck F. Betters were preached as part of the God Will Make a Way series.
On June 17, 2015, Dylann Roof, a young white man, attended the Wednesday evening Bible study at the predominantly black Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina. An hour later, Roof pulled a concealed weapon and killed nine African-Americans as they prayed, including Myra Thompson, the wife of Reverend Anthony Thompson. Myra's murder devastated Anthony, yet he chose to privately and publicly forgive the shooter.
Many in the church and community still struggle to understand Reverend Thompson's deliberate choice to forgive the racist murderer. But as Charlestonians witnessed this incredible act of forgiveness, something significant happened within the community. Instead of the expected racial riots in the aftermath of the shooting, black and white leaders and residents united, coming together peaceably and even showing acts of selfless love.
In this candid conversation, Anthony Thompson candidly shares the details of that awful night, the grief he experienced, and the radical choice to forgive the killer. But beyond that, Reverend Thompson shares a compelling vision of the power of forgiveness to transform our lives--personally, in our communities, and even in our nation.
Be inspired by this remarkable story and discover how the difficult decision to forgive can become the key to radical change.
On June 17, 2015, Dylann Roof, a young white man, attended the Wednesday evening Bible study at the predominantly black Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina. An hour later, Roof pulled a concealed weapon and killed nine African-Americans as they prayed, including Myra Thompson, the wife of Reverend Anthony Thompson. Myra's murder devastated Anthony, yet he chose to privately and publicly forgive the shooter.
Many in the church and community still struggle to understand Reverend Thompson's deliberate choice to forgive the racist murderer. But as Charlestonians witnessed this incredible act of forgiveness, something significant happened within the community. Instead of the expected racial riots in the aftermath of the shooting, black and white leaders and residents united, coming together peaceably and even showing acts of selfless love.
In this candid conversation, Anthony Thompson candidly shares the details of that awful night, the grief he experienced, and the radical choice to forgive the killer. But beyond that, Reverend Thompson shares a compelling vision of the power of forgiveness to transform our lives--personally, in our communities, and even in our nation.
Be inspired by this remarkable story and discover how the difficult decision to forgive can become the key to radical change.
Julie Sanford is a Recovery Mentor for wives of alcoholics. She is a wife and mom of three who found herself in a situation she never wanted to be in as the wife of an alcoholic. After several years of living in chaos, feeling alone, and unseen, she is now using her journey to help other wives of alcoholics navigate their husband’s addiction. She came to realize that it was not only her husband that needed recovery, but she also needed support. In this conversation with Sharon Betters, Julie shares not only her story but hope and encouragement for those in a similar, broken place. Julie offers programs and coaching that equip women with the tools and strength needed to navigate their husband’s addiction without losing themselves in the process.
Podcast: https://marriedtoaddiction.com/podcast
Website: Marriedtoaddiction.com
Other Helpful Organizations:
Celebrate Recovery Alanon
Stephanie Broersma lived a charmed life until the day she discovered a deleted online conversation between her husband and another woman. When confronted, he confessed to a ten-year addiction to pornography and multiple affairs.
In this conversation with Sharon Betters Stephanie shares the story of moving through anger, betrayal, fear, and finally redemption. Her remarkable story brings hope to one of the darkest places in a marriage. Stephanie helps those whose lives have been turned upside down to take a raw and honest look at the emotions, decisions and difficulties women face in marital betrayal. She wants other women to know they are not alone and you can find healing from the shame, anger, and brokenness that overwhelms you.
Take a walk with Stephanie and Sharon and listen in on their transparent and hope-filled conversation.
In this candid and fun interview, Jani Ortlund and Sharon Betters talk about what it’s like to be married to their pastor. Jani and Sharon have been married to their pastors for over fifty years – that’s 100 years of experience between them! Using Jani’s book, Help! I’m Married to My Pastor as a springboard, they cover such topics as how to help pastor husbands deal with depression, create a home where the “PKs” feel safe and unaffected by congregational expectations, cultivate romance in their marriages, deal with gossip and prioritizing personal intimacy with Jesus.
Pastor’s wives – whether young or old, will benefit from this candid conversation.
Check out Jani Ortlund’s books!
Help! I’ve Been Diagnosed with a Mental Illness!
The words, “You have a mental illness” bring fear, uncertainty, sometimes shame, loneliness, and even hopelessness. Christine Chappell heard those words as a young woman. They helped her understand many of her struggles with depression and self-harming behavior but also took her into a foreign land where she had no road map. Christine talks to Sharon Betters about how her journey began as a young adult until she knew if she didn’t get help, she might take her own life. While her diagnosis helped make sense of her disturbing emotions, it also confronted her with numerous decisions about treatment and how this diagnosis impacted her identity. Christine shares her story and gives practical ways she learned to navigate this hard place and even found healing.
One key for her was to understand her diagnosis did not define her so she talks about the importance of understanding our identity in Christ. This conversation is filled with “salty peanuts”, that is, we are hoping you hear just enough to make you want to know more. In this message, Christine develops the truth of bettering understanding how our perspective on our identity is a freeing part of living with depression or mental illness.
“Who am I? What is my purpose? I thought I could have it all and I do. But I am restless, I feel like I’m missing something.”
Statistics show many American women are weary, struggle with depression, and self-medicate with alcohol, flattery, and more. Suicide rates for women are on the rise. What’s happening? More importantly, what’s the resolution?
In this conversation, Jen Oshman, author of Enough About Me and Help & Hope host Sharon Betters talk about the problem, the diagnosis, and the treatment for this low-grade anxiety that often disrupts our thinking, whether in joyful or sorrowful seasons.
In her book, Jen says, “We 21st century women have been running on ourselves, rather than on our God. We've been running on self-help, self-empowerment, and self-actualization. The fuel of self has run out, and that's why we're tired, discouraged, and even in crisis. Enough about me. And enough about you. If we want to keep running, we need to run on the fuel we're made for - God himself. We will indeed be restless until then.” (Enough About Me, Find Lasting Joy in the Age of Self, Jen Oshman, Page 48)
Friends, join Jen and Sharon as they talk frankly about the reasons for the restlessness and dissatisfaction in a culture that demands we “do it all” and how do we find our way back to God’s purpose for each of us.
When a son, sister, or grandchild begins to behave in unexpected and disturbing ways, family members hope it is simply a phase. For some, it is instead a life-time illness – schizophrenia.
The diagnosis of schizophrenia can bring shock, fear, and worry to everyone involved. But in the midst of the numerous challenges, hope doesn’t have to die. (Broken Pieces and the God Who Mends Them by Simonetta Carr)
In this conversation with Sharon Betters, Simonetta Carr shares the story of her beloved son, Jonathan, and her experience of caring for him as he struggled with schizophrenia. Simonetta doesn’t sugarcoat the enormous challenges and emotions that were non-stop. She talks about how she fervently prayed for Jonathan, the fears she had to confront, and how the church came alongside Jonathan and her in this battle. You may not have a loved one with schizophrenia but Simonetta and Jonathan’s story will give you insight into the enormous battle facing families with such a diagnosis.
You can learn more about schizophrenia and find numerous helpful resources in Simonetta’s book, Broken Pieces and the God Who Mends Them, Schizophrenia Through a Mother’s Eyes.
Kathe Wunnenberg is a hopelifter. She believes God can transform anything you offer Him into hope to help others. God has enlarged her through many life challenges including infertility, miscarriages and the loss of her son. Known for her creative compassion and her motto: “We go through what we go through, to help others go through what we went through,” Kathe is the founder of Hopelifters Unlimited and lives in Phoenix, Arizona. The author of Grieving The Loss of a Loved One, Grieving the Child I Never Knew, Longing for a Child, and Hopelifter: Creative Ways to Spread Hope when Life Hurts, Kathe’s books and ministry has impacted thousands. Kathe lives in Phoenix with her husband, Rich. They have three young adult sons, one grandson Website: http://www.hopelifters.com
Pastors and Their Critics – A Guide to Coping with Criticism in the Ministry Part 2
In Part 2 of this Help & Hope podcast Nick Thompson, co-author with Joel R. Beeke of Pastors and Their Critics continues his conversation with Chuck Betters about the difference between betrayal and criticism and how to handle criticism from church members. Part 2 focuses on how to create a church climate where it is safe to share concerns with your pastor and elders along with the reality that sometimes no amount of reconciliation efforts will reap sweet fruit. Thinking through these themes will help equip young pastors as they begin to realize criticism comes with the territory of shepherding and encourage older pastors to think through the climate of their church and whether they need a course correction.
In Part 1 of this conversation Nick Thompson, co-author with Joel R. Beeke of Pastors and Their Critics talks with Chuck Betters about the difference between betrayal and criticism and how to handle criticism from church members. Pastors quickly learn that criticism comes with the territory of shepherding. This conversation took place in the middle of the 2020 pandemic and pastors are weary from the constant criticism they are getting in response to their handling of the pandemic. Rather than resolve their differences, critics choose to leave without any attempt to preserve the relationship. Most pastors give their lives to their congregation but over time realize what they thought were great friendships don’t stand up in the middle of disagreements. How does a pastor handle such hurt without making the situation worse? What are realistic expectations for conflict resolution? Pastor, are you hurting? This conversation will help guide you through the minefield of criticism.
For too long women, rather than feel safe, women often feel shame in their local churches, so much so that they will not ask the leadership for help. The idea of speaking about her personal needs and hurts to any man, let alone being in a room alone with a group of men fills her with fear. This conversation with Ann Maree Goudzwaard, Sharon Betters and Jane Anne Wilson fills us with great hope as we learn about a Shepherdess ministry designed to not only create a safe place for women in crisis but also act as a preventative balm. This ministry is a picture of the spiritual mothering described in Titus 2. Older women are trained to come alongside a hurting woman, learning how to speak “woman” to the pastoral leadership when the hurting woman cannot speak for herself. Ann Maree describes the responsibilities of a Shepherdess and how this ministry changes the atmosphere of a local church as women – and their friends – discover the church is a safe place. And the bonus – older women realize they have much to share from their own life journeys and Scripture. This conversation acts as salty peanuts – we hope you want more! To satisfy your craving for more information, check out the following links. Not only is the book packed with practical information on how to start this ministry but there are also training videos.
In this conversation two seasoned pastors, Chuck Betters and Bernie Lawrence talk about how the local church is not only called to be a safe place for hurting women but how to make it so. Bernie is co-author with Ann Maree Goudzwaard of HelpHer – A Churchwide Response for Women in Crisis.
Chuck and Bernie discuss how many churches are ill-prepared to come alongside of women in crisis but how the scriptures outline the way to meet these needs. Bernie speaks from the experience of helping oversee such a ministry in his local church. He shares how the leadership recognized the need to make the church a safe place for women and then enlisted women to help develop a strategy for meeting this dire need. In their book, Bernie and Ann Maree not only tell the story of how the Shepherdess ministry developed but also include numerous practical instructions for how to develop a similar ministry in your local church. This ministry will revolutionize a local church and no doubt as it grows women will spread the news that their church is ready and willing to not only help women in crisis but be there as a pro-active and preventative balm.
Be sure to listen to Ann Maree’s conversation with Sharon Betters and Jane Anne Wilson
Barbara Juliani and Jane Anne Wilson join Sharon Betters to talk about those feelings every mother experiences at one time or another. This conversation follows an interview with Barbara about prodigal children. Barbara and her father Jack Miller co-authored Come Back, Barbara, a raw and transparent story of Barbara’s rebellion against her parents and their faith and her journey “back home”. Whenever a child rebels or disappoints parents, mothers often feel ashamed and as though their child’s behavior is a reflection on their parenting skills. “Was I too soft, too hard, spanked when I shouldn’t have, neglected a specific need in my child?” Where do moms go with these feelings? If you are that mother, this conversation will encourage you as you realize you are not alone and there is a way toward freedom.
Do these words haunt you: "Mom, Dad, I don't want your rules and morals. I don't want to act like a Christian anymore! And I'm not going to," Barbara Juliani (then Barbara Miller) made this declaration at the age 18. As her father desperately attempted to reason with her, Barbara grew more resentful, choosing a path of immorality that only deepened her parents' pain.
Such a declaration from a child, no matter their age, creates havoc and soul-searching in the hearts of their parents, who often ask, “What did I do wrong?”
In this conversation with Sharon Betters and Jane Anne Wilson Barbara Juliani shares her story and addresses some of the ways parents take on the guilt of their children and responsibility for their decisions. You might be surprised by some of her conclusions. Her dad, Jack Miller wrote: "I am not ignorant of human depravity," writes C. John Miller, "but I had long denied that it could exist in our family." That reality, however, forced him to confront his own sin, seek forgiveness, admit his inability to change his wayward daughter, and begin loving Barbara on God's terms. In their book, Come Back, Barbara, "Jack" Miller and Barbara Miller Juliani chronicle their journey from grief and conflict to joyful reconciliation. Come Back, Barbara is thus an irresistible portrayal of God's grace to the Millers and us all. Our conversation with Barbara reminds broken-hearted parents about the freedom of experiencing such grace in the midst of their child’s rebellion.
Mention church conflict in a group of pastors and ministry leaders. One by one they will nod knowingly and share war stories of betrayal, conflict and relationship damage. We hear about pastors taking their own lives and the many who are leaving the ministry, tired of the in-fighting, unfair criticisms and unbiblical treatment of not only them but their families. The Covid pandemic created even more stress for pastors as a key strengthening and essential piece of the church – community – shut down. Many had to learn how to use technology and work even harder to stay connected to the congregation. Then politics entered the scene and former good friends demanded the pastor take positions he could not. Pastors are weary and not sure what the future holds. George Grant and Chuck Betters, seasoned pastors and ministry leaders talk frankly about the intense pressures pastors and ministry leaders experience and offer insights on how to navigate these turbulent times. Pastors, this is for you.
This conversation is part of a series for Ministry Families. Download the free Help & Hope app and subscribe to the Help and Hope podcast – be sure to push notifications.
This conversation is for pastor’s and ministry wives and those who love them. While there are occupational hazards in all lines of work, ministry families experience conflicts that sometimes not only result in broken relationships but loss of their beloved church family. In most jobs, wives are not expected to be an unpaid laborer, stand by their husband’s side every Sunday, remembering every name and something about the families, teach a class, play the piano, or host multiple gatherings for every age. What she considers deep friendships root and grow. Her children see the church as their second home. Imagine the trauma when conflict reveals that many view her only as a commodity, useful as long as her husband pleases the congregation. She learns that those for whom she has hurt the most are sometimes the ones who will hurt her deeply. In this conversation two seasoned ministry wives, Karen Grant and Sharon Betters talk freely about these challenges and how to respond when trusted friends betray. Ministry wife, you are not alone. This conversation is part of a series for Ministry Families. Download the free Help & Hope app and subscribe to the Help and Hope podcast – be sure to push notifications.
Mention “fear of the Lord” and most people don’t know what it means. Is it terror in God’s presence? Is it fear He is watching and waiting to condemn us or tell us what a good person we are? Or maybe the Lord will demand we give up what is most precious to us to prove we fear Him. Or perhaps fear of the Lord grows when we think He is punishing us for past sins. In this conversation Christina Fox talks to Sharon Betters about how the fear of the Lord frees us from lesser fears and how understanding biblical fear helps us walk by faith when life turns upside down. Christina also shares how the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom in not only the hard places but in the mundane things of life.
This conversation touches the tip of the iceberg on the topic of the fear of the Lord so we hope you not only listen to this conversation but get a copy of Christina’s book, A Holy Fear.
Children raised in the same family sometimes grow up with very different responses to life. Such is the story of Julie Malone and her beautiful daughter, Allie. Julie and her husband, Tim loved their lives as parents and Tim’s ministry to teens. But their idyllic life would take a turn into a foreign land of broken places. Julie says,
“I am very thankful for my childhood as I came to know and love the Lord as my savior at a very young age. I really never knew a day without Jesus in my life. I married Tim, and we had 4 beautiful little girls. We were raising our kids to know Jesus. We were a close family. Life was good. But Tim and I often wondered how and when real suffering would enter our lives.
For us, it didn’t come in one huge blow. For us it came in pieces. A little ding here, and a little ding there – until the repeated dinging of the chisel brought true hardship that often made me feel weary and worn, and well…broken. And much of this brokenness focused on our journey of parenting our oldest daughter Ally through her teenage years.”
You may not have a prodigal child, but no doubt you know someone who does, someone who is fearful for their child but maybe ashamed and embarrassed. Parents of hurting children immediately blame themselves, thinking, surely, we could have done something different. Parents of prodigal children need their friends, family and church family to rally around them and Julie gives us a glimpse into how.
Thousands of families quietly and lovingly care for children with special needs. Though the days are often long and hard, many find joy in their calling and would not trade their calling for anything. Kara Dedert and her family reflect this joy in the ordinary and extraordinary moments of caring for their son and brother, Calvin. In her introduction to her blog, Kara writes, “You’ll find me writing about the good, gritty, gracy parts of faith, family and home. I’m married to Darryl and we have five kids. One of our sons has severe disabilities from Zika. It’s broken our hearts and also filled us with hope – I write about that, too. We’re grateful for Kara’s willingness to not only write about her journey, but to talk with Sharon Betters about the everyday struggles and joys of caring for Calvin and how his life has drawn his entire family deeper into the heart of Jesus. Connect with Kara at karadedert.com.
Discontent easily arises when our desires aren’t met and our plans don’t come true—but this is a dangerous path that drives us away from God. Megan Hill talks with Sharon Betters about how discontentment can be an insidious, unrecognized poison that robs us of opportunities to experience joy and intimacy with the Lord. Megan explains the meaning of contentment, how we often make discontentment comfortable in our hearts, and how it puts a shadow on everything we do. This conversation took place in the middle of the COVID pandemic, where we all experienced many reasons to be discontent but in this interview, Megan suggests such seasons of uncertainty are opportunities to intentionally draw strength from contentment. Megan offers practical ideas on how to seek contentment in the ordinary and extraordinary seasons of life.
Sometimes one of the hardest places in suffering is the isolation and loneliness of pain. In this conversation with Sharon Betters, Wendy Alsup shares how suffering came in wave after wave, leaving her breathless and lonely. In one particularly dark and painful period after intense surgery for cancer, Wendy discovered she was not truly alone. Though her pain was not alleviated, she found comfort and strength in experiencing intimacy with the Lord Who walks with us in suffering. Wendy describes how the Lord is our companion in suffering, even when we must walk alone.
Mention pornography and most people think, “That’s a problem for men.” Yet 76% of 18 – 30 year old American women report that they watch porn at least oncer a month. Three percent of all women say they either thought they might be addicted or are unsure if they are addicted to pornography. This equates to three million women.* These stats are from 2018, so it’s safe to say the numbers are growing. Is there help for women addicted to pornography? In this conversation with Sharon Betters Jessica Harris says yes!
Jessica shares her own story of how pornography drew her in when she was a middle schooler and how she found solace and acceptance through the internet and eventually chat rooms. Jessica describes the secrecy of her addiction and how it led to shame and guilt that she didn’t know how to break. Then, a woman acknowledged to a group of young adult females that pornography addiction was a woman thing, too. Suddenly, Jessica had hope that the chains of addiction could be broken. Jessica shares her journey as a means to offer hope to others.
But Jessica also shares her story in her book Beggar’s Daughter and her ministry of the same name.
Learn more about breaking the chains of pornography and that you are not alone in your battle – women across the world are ready to come alongside of you in your struggle to break the chains of pornography.
We live in an anti-aging culture – subtle and not so subtle messages convince us aging is bad – do everything you can to hang on to youth. But no matter how hard we try, our bodies continue to age. Susan Hunt and Sharon Betters co-authored a book, Aging with Grace, Flourishing in an Anti-Aging Culture because we believe our Creator, God, promises we will flourish in our old age. At the end of each chapter, a woman at least 70 years of age tells her story of what flourishing in old age looks like for her.
In the book co-authored by Susan Hunt and Sharon Betters, Aging with Grace, Flourishing in an Anti-Aging Culture, each chapter ends with a story-teller who is at least seventy years old. Each woman gives the readers a glimpse into what aging with grace looks like for her. One of those storytellers is Dianne Balch. In a five-minute video for the companion series Aging with Grace, Ask an Older Woman, Dianne answered the question:
What is the hardest challenge and the greatest benefit of aging?
Aging is a season of loss on many levels. Married women fear losing their spouse or outliving their children. In fact, today there are 13.6 million widows in America, and about 700,000 women become a widow in the U.S. each year. Single women who have never married can fear being alone in the last years of life. In this conversation with Sharon Betters, seventy-two-year old Jerdone Davis frankly shares some of the emotional challenges of anticipating aging alone, including addressing how we can prepare for this season while we are younger and how can we handle the fears of being alone, especially in the last season of our lives. No matter your marital status, Jerdone’s recommendations for preparing for the last season of life will encourage you to be intentional in taking steps to make things easier for loved ones after your death.
In the book co-authored by Susan Hunt and Sharon Betters, Aging with Grace, Flourishing in an Anti-Aging Culture, each chapter ends with a story-teller who is at least seventy years old. Each woman gives the readers a glimpse into what aging with grace looks like for her. One of those storytellers is Jerdone Davis. In a five-minute video for the companion series Aging with Grace, Ask an Older Woman, Jerdone answered the question:
How do you deal with loneliness and fear as an aging single woman?
Carol was eighty-three years old at the time of the interview. Carol travels the world continuing the work of the organization her husband started, Equipping Pastors. Surely Carol is a model of flourishing in old age as she regularly gets on a plane in order to spend hours teaching about marriage in less than optimum circumstances. But is traveling the world at eighty-three years of age the only way to flourish? In this conversation with Sharon Betters, Carol answers this question and encourages us to understand flourishing in any age is not about doing but rather about “being”. No matter your age, you will be encouraged and guided by Carol’s insights.
In the book co-authored by Susan Hunt and Sharon Betters, Aging with Grace, Flourishing in an Anti-Aging Culture, each chapter ends with a story-teller who is at least seventy years old. Each woman gives the readers a glimpse into what aging with grace looks like for her. One of those storytellers is Carol Arnold. In a five-minute video for the companion series Aging with Grace, Ask an Older Woman, Carol answered the question:
What does flourishing look like for women who cannot travel the world and teach as you do?
Growing up we all have a vision of what our life will look like. By the time we reach the last season of life, we might struggle with bitterness or depression or discontent because life was nothing like we expected. Is there a way to trade in the bitterness for contentment and joy? Is it even possible to flourish as we age? At the end of each chapter in Aging with Grace, Flourishing in an Anti-Aging Culture, co-authored by Susan Hunt and Sharon Betters each chapter ends with a woman who is 70 or older sharing what flourishing in an anti-aging culture looks like for her. One of those story tellers is Barbara Thompson. In a five-minute video for the companion series Aging with Grace, Ask an Older Woman, Barbara answered the question: How do our expectations, plans, goals for aging influence our flourishing? Barbara unpacks her answer in this extended conversation with Sharon Betters, Barbara describes how life didn’t turn out the way she expected when she decided caring for her elderly parents was not a chore but a calling. Saying yes to being their caregiver meant saying no to opportunities to continue speaking at national and local women’s events as well as having an active role in the women’s ministry of her denomination. She describes how her marriage didn’t just survive but thrived in the middle of these hard places.
In this conversation with Sharon Betters, Miho Kahn and her husband share the story of Miho’s journey into a world of drugs, violence and abuse. At the age of fourteen, Miho pushed against the boundaries of her parents’ quiet life and struck out on her own, telling her sister, “Don’t try to find me.” As you listen, you might think, “This story could be a compelling movie” as you imagine a young girl hitch-hiking alone across America and exposing herself to danger and abuse. Miho shares the story of her drug addiction, rape, co-dependency, abortion - and all of this happened before she was seventeen years old. Miho transparently shares her journey and how she found peace and direction in a personal relationship to Jesus.
Pam Benton started noticing small changes in her pastor husband. Though Wilson had retired, he had agreed to serve as interim pastor in another church for eighteen months. Eighteen months turned into five years. Pam’s concerns grew when Wilson started using notes for his sermons. Since both of their mothers had Alzheimers, Pam and Wilson did not hesitate to get their doctor’s opinion, hoping for a simple answer, but knowing Alzheimers was not unlikely. In this conversation with Sharon Betters, Pam describes how a diagnosis has changed the direction of their plans for retirement, how important it is to get an early diagnosis and the way the Lord has grown her faith. Pam’s children told her that in spite of a lifetime of ministry, this season of life is perhaps the most important as she models for them how to love their dad well in what many call the long goodbye.
Twenty-one surgeries by age thirteen. Years in the hospital. Verbal and physical bullying from schoolmates. Multiple miscarriages as a young wife. The death of a child. A debilitating progressive disease. Riveting pain. Abandonment. Unwanted divorce. How can one woman survive let alone thrive when she experiences such crashing waves of pain? In this conversation with Sharon Betters, Vaneetha Rendall Risner, author of The Scars that Have Shaped Me; How God meets us in Suffering, has experienced all these life crises and more. Rather than despair and giving up when wave after wave of loss hits, Veneetha encourages us to allow suffering to draw us into the heart of God.
On average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. During one year, this equates to more than 10 million women and men.1 About 2 in 4 women have experienced some form of physical violence by an intimate partner. This includes a range of behaviors (e.g. slapping, shoving, pushing) and in some cases might not be considered "domestic violence." 1These statistics do not include abuse of men. These are just a few of domestic abuse statistics on the National Statistics Domestic Violence website. Many more people do not report abuse. If these stats are true, it’s likely 1 in 4 women sitting in our church pews have experienced severe physical violence. Sadly, the place where wounded women should feel safest – the church – is the one place they are too ashamed to be transparent. In this informative but at times disturbing interview, Darby Strickland draws from years of not only studying the impact of abuse but her interaction through counseling abused women. Darby is passionate about equipping local churches to be a safe place for the abused. To go deeper, you can order her newest book: Is it Abuse? A Biblical Guide to Identifying Domestic Abuse and Helping Victims
Infertility, ministry conflict, chronic pain – experiencing just one of these life crises can be all consuming. But all of them at the same time – and more? How does a woman not just survive, but thrive? Glenna Marshall, author of The Promise is His Presence, Why God is Always Enough, joins Sharon Betters to share her journey that has taken her to some very broken places. But as you will hear, she discovered priceless treasures as she struggled to make sense of it all.
Imagine you have one child, a beautiful daughter whose life reflects her deep love for Jesus. You and your wife work for a Christian organization, offering the help and hope of the Gospel, seeing every day as an opportunity to encourage and love others. And then you get that phone call that is every parent’s nightmare. Your only child, 17 years old, has been in a fatal car accident. Fast forward twenty years and your wife gets a diagnosis that not only will take her life but turn her last years into a place of great anguish. How would you respond? Ellis Goldstein had to answer these questions, the most recent, when he learned his wife’s diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, better known as Lou Gehrig's disease. This thoughtful conversation between two men who share the grief of losing a child will challenge listeners with their responses to grief and Ellis’ response to the illness and death of his beloved Colleen.
Almost 40% of young adults live with their parents or grandparents. This is the highest percentage in 70 years. The last time young adults did life in such proximity to their parents or grandparents was just before the Depression. Then it was out of financial need. Today it seems there is a whole different perspective on the part of the young adults. Dr. Chuck Betters talks to Jim Burns, author of Doing Life with Your Adult Children about some of the challenges for parents as they transition from parenting children to parenting young adults. Jim gives practical advice and hopeful encouragement for this tough yet rewarding transition. If you have an adult child, you know that parenting doesn't stop when a child reaches the age of eighteen. In many ways, it gets more complicated. Both your heart and your head are as involved as ever, whether your child lives under your roof or rarely stays in contact. In this conversation and in his book, parenting expert Jim Burns helps us navigate one of the richest and most challenging seasons of parenting. Speaking from his own personal and professional experience, Burns offers practical answers to questions often asked by parents of adult children.
Google mother-in-law jokes and you can take your pick of numerous sites that offer laughter at the expense of the mother-in-law. Becoming a mother-in-law after pouring your life into your son might be one of the most difficult challenges some women face. Perhaps family conflict is one of the hardest places to experience help and hope. This conversation between Annie Chapman and Sharon Betters will help guide daughters-in-law and mothers-in-law through the sometimes difficult maze of “sharing” a man. Annie Chapman is the author of The Mother-In-Law Dance and knows from experience how challenging it can be to get along with your mother-in-law. She also has married sons so she brings great wisdom on family relationships that might be just what you need to find a bridge into your “in-law’s” heart or build an even stronger relationship. Can two women love the same man and still get along? Annie says yes! And she offers sound advice for those times when only one party wants to have that friendship.
Each year about 50,000 children die in the United States. While a profound loss for parents, what about their siblings? Doug MacGray, was eleven years old when he lost his sixteen-year-old brother, Ricky. How does an eleven-year-old grieve? How is the grief journey of a sibling different than the grief journey of parents? In this sometimes emotional conversation, Doug shares with Dr. Chuck F. Betters some of the ways his brother’s death affected him and how grief for a child is different than the grief of an adult. It’s our hope that Doug’s story will help parents understand the grief of their children a little better and also encourage those who have lost siblings at a young age.
From Dr. Chuck Betters' series Conversion from Fear to Faith This Episode: Judges 6:1-23
From Dr. Chuck Betters' series The High View of Woman This Episode: 1 Corinthians 11:1-16
From Dr. Chuck Betters' series The High View of Woman Pt 1 This Episode: 1 Corinthians 11:1-16
In 2016 about 20% of US adults had chronic pain – that’s about 50,000,000. Eight percent of those adults had high-impact pain – that’s about 20,000,000 people with debilitating chronic pain. People suffering from high-impact pain often suffer in isolation and without much understanding or sympathy. They don’t have a cast or any visible sign of injury, yet their pain changes the way they live life. In this Help & Hope podcast, Dr. Betters talks with Bill Condon, who knows what it is to not only experience chronic pain with no hope of healing, but also the devastation of the losses that often accompanies chronic pain. Bill explains how depression took him into such a dark place he no longer wanted to live. Yet in the middle of debilitating pain, Bill’s story is one of hope. If you or someone you love suffers from any kind of ongoing pain, Bill’s story will encourage you, and help you find a way to walk by faith in the middle of the pain and/or come alongside someone who lives with chronic pain.
Is it ever ok to question God’s love or wisdom, especially when you love and serve Him but experience tremendous loss? Dr. Frank A. James, President and Professor of Historical Theology at Missio Seminary in Pennsylvania joins Dr. Chuck F. Betters to talk about this very question. Frank’s story of loss started when his younger brother, Kelly, was trapped in a snow cave on Mt. Hood and an unyielding blizzard prevented rescue. News outlets from all over the world covered the fear and anguish of Frank’s family as they waited for news about Kelly. Frank describes the emotional roller coaster of hope, fear, confusion, despair and lament as they waited and then as they realized Kelly would not survive. As a professor, author, seminary president, how is it possible Frank struggled with hard theological questions about suffering and lament. Frank’s transparency will encourage you to better understand how God welcomes your questions and holds you tightly in His grip when you struggle to understand His purposes.
According to the National Institutes of Health, nearly 1 in 3 of all adolescents ages 13 to 18 will experience an anxiety disorder. These numbers have been rising steadily; between 2007 and 2012, anxiety disorders in children and teens went up 20%. These stats combined with the rate of hospital admissions for suicidal teenagers also doubling over the past decade leaves us with many concerning questions. (source: https://www.childhealthdata.org/learn-about-the-nsch/NSCH)
In this Help & Hope interview, Jessica Thompson, author of How to Help Your Teens with Anxiety, talks to Sharon Betters about some of the root causes of anxiety and offers practical tips for how parents can get their kids talking about anxiety and how they come alongside of their children during their teen years.
Did you know that only 12 percent of child sexual abuse is ever reported to the authorities and fewer than 4 in 10 rapes are reported to the police? Additionally, 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be sexually abused before they turn 18. These numbers include people in our local churches. In this Help and Hope resource Sharon Betters and Ellen Dykas discuss these horrifying statistics in the context of how the church can help create an environment where abuse victims feel safe and helped. This is not an easy topic to discuss nor is it easy to hear, especially if you are a victim of sexual abuse. But it is imperative that we hear from people like Ellen who are passionate about going into the dark places with the light of Jesus and inviting others to go with her to offer the hope and help only Jesus gives.
We all want to be beautiful and successful. Often this desire pushes us off a cliff into concluding we are never enough. And sometimes these feelings lead us into addictions in our pursuit of beauty and success. At least 30 million people of all ages and genders suffer from an eating disorder in the United States. Perhaps you are one of them or you know someone suffering from an eating disorder. In this Help & Hope interview Sarah Ivill, talks with Sharon Betters about her own struggle with an eating disorder and how it reflected her view that she was never enough. But an eating disorder is not the only addiction resulting from feeling inadequate. With great compassion, Sarah discusses some of the lies that feed into the feeling that we are never enough, the need to get to the root of the lies and how an eating disorder is an addiction that can take a long time to break. Though you may have no experience with an eating disorder, the truths that Sarah shares apply to any place in our lives where we feel we are not enough.
All of us face choices every day, but some face life-changing choices much earlier than others. Jonathan Gonzalez lived with painful circumstances throughout his childhood that forced him to take on adult decisions far sooner than he was ready. When Jonathan was seventeen years old, everything changed. In this conversation with Chuck Betters, Jonathan describes the horrifying accident that left him bleeding out in the backseat of a car. In desperation he prayed a prayer that would change everything.
Have you ever been away from home and all you wanted was to go home, to your familiar surroundings, you family – your bed? You feel homesick. In this conversation with Sharon Betters Elyse Fitzpatrick describes how a difficult time in her life resulted in her longing for something more. She concluded she was homesick for heaven. Elyse helps us better understand how a biblical view of heaven can be a source of great comfort when life turns upside down. She encourages us to learn more about our eternal destination, just as we would if we were planning a visit to another country. Rather than eating grapes and being fanned by angels during an eternal worship service, Elyse paints a picture of a perfected earth, a real, physical place that we will explore and enjoy with real bodies in a world where there is no more sickness, death or tears.
From Dr. Chuck Betters' series The Myth of the Greener Grass. This Episode: Hosea 4, Deuteronomy 24
“I end every day feeling defeated because I lost my temper with my kids, vowing tomorrow will be better, but it usually isn’t.” “I don’t want my kids to be “less than” their friends. I also want them to stand out as college applicants. But I don’t think I can keep up with this schedule of activities. They are ages 5 & 9.” “Whenever my child fails at something, I’m the one who feels guilty and judged.” “When is it my turn? I look forward to an hour of quiet time after the kids are in bed and no matter how hard I try, something robs me of my time”
Christina Fox addresses these parenting concerns and much more in this conversation with Sharon Betters and Melissa Weisenfels. How can good parenting motives turn into idols? What should we do when we discover that our motives for doing good things for our kids just might be wrong? Christina is the author of Idols of a Mother’s Heart and numerous other books and articles
Against the backdrop of the Sonoran Desert, Lynne Hartke asks her own hard questions as cancer arrives like a thief. As Lynne wrestles with a tumble of tangled emotions, a shaken faith, and self-doubt cancer is now not only threatening her own life, but, in a surprising twist, the lives of both her parents as well. In this conversation with Sharon Betters, Lynne gives us a glimpse into her journey to understand God’s ways as well as a picture of how the legacy of faith passed on to her by her parents helped her experience God’s love and presence in the darkest of times. Lynne encourages us to know we are never alone, no matter how desolate the desert may feel and we are never forgotten by our Father in Heaven.
Connect with Lynne at Lynnehartke.com
https://www.amazon.com/Under-Desert-Sky-Redefining-Hardest/dp/0800727746
Christmas evokes numerous emotions, and in 1994, the emotions Dr. Betters experienced were not of warm, fuzzy Christmas scenes, but heart breaking as he faced his second Christmas without his sixteen-year-old son, Mark. Dr. Betters has addressed the questions of trust, reality, suffering, love and now he addresses the fifth Christmas question that plagues people across the world. “Is this all there is? Is heaven real? Is there really an eternal God with an eternal plan? And what difference can understanding eternity make in my life
Christmas evokes numerous emotions, and in 1994, the emotions Dr. Betters experienced were not of warm, fuzzy Christmas scenes, but heart breaking as he faced his second Christmas without his sixteen-year-old son, Mark. In this message, Dr. Betters addresses the question of God’s love. He asks, “If God does indeed love me with an everlasting love, and if he has promised to guard me against all evil, and if He as promised that He will never leave me or forsake me, and if He has given to me His Holy Spirit to insure that nothing or no one will be able to separate me from the love of God in Christ, then why does it seem as though heaven is silent to the cries of my heart? Is there really a love that is lasting? Is there really a love that does not and cannot betray me? Is there a love I can trust and rest in?
Christmas evokes numerous emotions, and in 1994, the emotions Dr. Betters experienced were not of warm, fuzzy Christmas scenes, but heart breaking as he faced his second Christmas without his sixteen-year-old son, Mark. Christmas happens when Israel is at its lowest. Dr. Betters’ points out the similarities between our culture and Israel’s. What better time than to confront the question of pain and suffering? In this message we learn that the root cause of our doubt rests in the alleged sovereignty of man. Job is a classic example of someone learning that as hard as he tried, he was not sovereign over the circumstances of his life. We join Job is asking hard questions about pain and suffering
Christmas evokes numerous emotions, and in 1994, the emotions Dr. Betters experienced were not of warm, fuzzy Christmas scenes, but heart breaking as he faced his second Christmas without his sixteen-year-old son, Mark. Christmas happens when Israel is at its lowest. Dr. Betters’ points out the similarities between our culture and Israel’s. People today are cynical, reluctant to trust anyone and even more reluctant to believe anything is “real.” Once we question what is real, everything is up for grabs. In this message, Dr. Betters’ asks, “What is real and what does Christmas have to do with it??
Christmas evokes numerous emotions, and in 1994, the emotions Dr. Betters experienced were not of warm, fuzzy Christmas scenes, but heart breaking as he faced his second Christmas without his sixteen-year-old son, Mark. In this series, Dr. Betters acknowledges that not everyone loves Christmas or even looks forward to it. Rather than running from Christmas, though, he encourages us to recognize the opportunity to experience even deeper comfort as we recognize the pain of that first Christmas. Dr. Betters opens up a list of five significant questions that people are longing to ask, not only at Christmas, but throughout the uneasiness of living life in this broken world. We will see five influences that shaped the culture of the Christmas story and continue to shape our culture today. Our culture is hungry for someone or something to trust. In this message, Dr. Betters’ asks, “What about the question of trust and what does Christmas have to do with it??
From Dr. Chuck Betters' series There's a Song in the Air. This Episode: Selected Scriptures
From Dr. Chuck Betters' series There's a Song in the Air. This Episode: Selected Scriptures
From Dr. Chuck Betters' series There's a Song in the Air. This Episode: Zechariah 9:1-9
From Dr. Chuck Betters' series There's a Song in the Air. This Episode: Selected Scriptures
A diagnosis of dementia in a loved one is frightening. Many spouses and family members face a “long goodbye” as they walk this pathway with their loved ones. In this interview Sharon Betters asks Dr. John Dunlop, author of Finding Grace in the Face of Dementia, to define dementia, the stages of dementia, what it is like to care for a loved one with dementia, and more. Dr. Dunlop’s compassion and passion for equipping and caring for older people comes through in his responses. He reminds us that every person is made in the image of God and that truth needs to be the grid through which we view those with dementia and the kind of care we give.
Did you know that every year about 100,000 men are widowed? Though a widow’s grief is just as deep as a widower, men often respond differently to the loss of their wives. In this moving conversation Dr. Chuck Betters talks with Dr. Jim Myer who lost his first wife. Jim shares the story of his family’s sorrow and cautions listeners that though someone who is broken might look whole on the outside, grief and depression might be ever present companions. Jim describes the depression he experienced and how his journey produced in him a passion for offering help to others who are grieving. Jim also shares how the Lord is redeeming his pain through his marriage to Kathy. The website for The Discipleship Counseling Resource (DCR) is: http://poconoefc.org/?page_id=597
From Dr. Chuck Betters' series Life in the Holy Spirit This Episode: John 16:7, John 14:2, John 14:12, Luke 24:46-53
From Dr. Chuck Betters' series Life in the Holy Spirit This Episode: John 14, John 15, John 16, Luke 24
From Dr. Chuck Betters' series Life in the Holy Spirit This Episode: John 14, John 15, John 16
When Marissa Henley learned on the day before she turned 34 that she had a rare form of a deadly, aggressive cancer, her first thoughts were of her young children. Would she live long enough to take her youngest to kindergarten. Her diagnosis sent her on a journey to find the best treatment which meant long separations from her family. In her book, Loving Your Friend Through Cancer, Marissa weaves her story in the context of how to walk with a friend through the battle of her life. Marissa equips us to not only know how to respond practically but how to better understand the questions and fears of a cancer fighter. In her conversation with Sharon Betters, also a cancer survivor, Marissa gives listeners a taste of the treasures in her book and her passion for equipping those who love cancer fighters to walk with them in the battle for their lives.
From Dr. Chuck Betters' series When God Doesn't Make Sense. This Episode: 1 Peter 1:7-9
From Dr. Chuck Betters' series When God Doesn't Make Sense. This Episode: 1 Peter 1:7-9
When Lovette told her mother she was pregnant, her mother dragged her to an abortion clinic despite protests and tears. A few months later, Lovette was again pregnant, and though she cried, she followed the routine and returned to the abortion clinic. In this conversation with Sharon Betters Lovette shares her story with hopes her journey into healing will help other women avoid the pain and grief she experienced after her abortions. Not only will the woman struggling to recover from an abortion receive hope from Lovette’s words, listeners will be better equipped to help a friend who faces a crisis pregnancy.
From Dr. Chuck Betters' series Living Epistles This Episode: Hebrews 4:14-16, 1 Peter 4:12-16
From Dr. Chuck Betters' series Living Epistles This Episode: Hebrews 4:14-16, 1 Peter 4:12-16
From Dr. Chuck Betters' series Living Epistles This Episode: Hebrews 4:14-16, 1 Peter:12-16
We’re all waiting for something. It might be a spouse or a baby. It might be healing or a home. Regardless of what we're waiting for, it’s easy to feel discontent when things aren’t going as planned and our dreams are delayed—especially when questions of 'Why?' and 'How long?' remain unanswered. In her conversation with Sharon Betters, Betsy Childs Howard reminds us that God uses seasons of waiting to teach us patience and make us more like Himself. Yet there is an even greater treasure to be found in our waiting rooms. Sanctification is not the only purpose God has in mind. When we wait faithfully with unmet longings, we become a powerful picture of the bride of Christ waiting for the day when he returns and God’s kingdom reigns. (Seasons of Waiting – Walking by Faith When Dreams are Delayed by Betsy Childs Howard)
In 2009, Claire Culwell found out she was an abortion survivor. Claire’s birth mother was 13 years old at the time she became pregnant with Claire. Her mother took her to an abortion clinic where she had a surgical abortion. A few weeks later, she realized her belly was still growing and her mother took her back to the abortion clinic. She learned she had been pregnant with twins. One baby was aborted. Claire survived. In this conversation with Sharon Betters Claire shares the poignant moments she learned she was an abortion survivor and how she responded to her birth mother. Claire challenges listeners to recognize the horror of abortion by presenting her own life as one of value and impact.
Suicide was the tenth leading cause of death overall in the United States, claiming the lives of 47,000 people. Suicide was the second leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 10 and 34, and the fourth leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 35 and 54. There were more than twice as many suicides (47,173) in the United States than there were homicides (19,510). Sadly, suicide is trending upward, increasing 31% in the past eighteen years. Suicide among males is nearly fourt times higher than among females.(Source) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) WISQARS Leading Causes of Death Reports in 2017)
These statistics are startling. Judy Springer doesn’t need statistics to reveal the anguish and pain of mental illness and suicide. In this conversation with Sharon Betters, she tells how she has lived it and continues to live with the aftermath of suicide. After a lifetime of the unrelenting pain of mental illness, Judy’s beloved husband, Scott, took his own life. Judy shares their story as a way to redeem some of the pain of Scott’s struggle to find healing and death. She is confident Scott would want her to transparently tell their story as a way to offer help and hope to others. This story will not only offer help and hope to those struggling with mental illness but equip others to walk beside them.
In this inspiring podcast former baseball star, Dave Dravecky and Dr. Chuck F. Betters talk about how cancer destroyed Dave’s successful baseball career and Dave’s struggle to deal with not only the loss of his career but understanding his true identity. In the 1980s Dave Dravecky was a long-sought-after relief specialist. His pitching helped key the San Diego Padres' World Series run. After a few years in San Diego, Dravecky moved on to San Francisco, where he was a key part of their World Series run. However, things in 1989 would take a bitter turn for the Youngstown, Ohio native. Experiencing weakness in his pitching arm, he was examined by the Giants team doctor. The doctor noticed Purpose Aa lump in Dravecky's arm and sent him to a specialist in New York. It was there that Dravecky learned his pitching arm was ripe with cancer. Draveckey underwent treatment in hopes on returning to baseball. In September of 1989, Dravecky returned to the pitching mound, mere months after undergoing treatment for cancer. In one appearance, Draveckey's arm, weakened from treatment, snapped and broke while he delivered a pitch. He would re-break the same arm weeks later celebrating his team's berth in the World Series. Any full-time comeback for Dravecky would be forever denied when in 1991, in a surgery to save his life, his pitching arm was amputated above the elbow. Dave Draveckey's plight inspired the Giants, though they were unable to overcome an earthquake, and an ultra powerful Oakland A's lineup. Dravecky retired officially from baseball after losing his arm. But his story was just beginning.
Long term illness has more than one victim. Naturally, the priority of energy and time must be the person who is ill. But what about the rest of the family, especially the spouse who walks beside the sick loved one? In this podcast, Jan Dravecky speaks candidly to Sharon Betters about how her husband Dave’s loss of his arm to cancer plunged her into a deep depression. Dave was a pitcher for the Giants when he received the diagnosis of cancer. Their journey captured the attention of the world when against all odds, Dave came back to the pitcher’s mound, and then gasped in horror when his arm snapped while pitching. The cancer had returned. Living with cancer is painful, but even more painful on a world stage. Jan’s body, heart and soul finally cried, “Enough” and Jan found herself on a long, hard journey to find her way out of deep depression. Jan and Dave share their journey through books, speaking and an outreach to hurting people called Endurance. Learn more about their ministry at Endurance.org.
Sherry and Mike Kendrick heard the word “terminal” when Mike was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer. Mike prayed he would live long enough to walk his daughter down the aisle. God granted him that desire and five years later, after his daughter’s wedding, Mike stepped from earth into heaven. In this poignant conversation with Sharon Betters, a little over a year after the death of her beloved pastor husband, Sherry shares how Mike helped prepare her to be intentional in life after his absence. Sherry took practical steps to allow her room to lean into the pain but also to open her heart and hands to the treasures God gives through others. Her story will not only encourage widows but anyone who struggles with this foreign land of grief.
Whether you are in a waiting room right now because of cancer, stroke, traumatic injury, a child struggling to hold on to life, a health crisis of any kind, you know the emotions of waiting – fear of the unknown, sadness over knowing life will never be the same, anger – you name it. Yet in the midst of it all, Elizabeth reminds us of of the certain hope and peace of the gospel.
Waiting. We don’t like it. We wouldn’t choose it. Yet in the middle of that waiting room, there is hope in Jesus. This conversation between Sharon Betters, Melissa Weisenfels and Elizabeth Turnage will help turn your heart toward Him if you are in that waiting room or equip you to offer help and hope to a waiting friend.
Sharon Betters interviews GRAMMY winner Laura Story who shares details of how her life took an unexpected turn when her husband, Martin, was diagnosed with a brain tumor. The fairytale life she had dreamed of was no longer possible, yet Laura found a "better broken' with Jesus. Laura's story will remind listeners while your situation might never change or get better, with Jesus YOU can.
“Edith, we urge you to learn Braille, train with a white cane, and learn to cook blindfolded...” These warnings from Doctors and a Rehab team along with major eye surgery and regular vision-loss monitoring by top specialists at Johns Hopkins University Hospital struck fear in Edith Yoder’s heart.. As a single Christian woman living alone in the mountains of Western Maryland she had already dealt with total vision loss in one eye. Now, the gravity of the possibility of total blindness was yet another blow as Edith felt even her “new normal” begin to crumble. In recent years her dream job as a CNA had already come to a screeching halt and it was obvious that not only physically but also spiritually, the decisions she would make in the following weeks would be crucial in this fight to retain her physical sight and her spiritual vision. In Christ, Edith has found purpose for her pain, strength sufficient for the struggles, and blessings beyond measure as she shares her message of hope to “Walk by faith, not by sight”!
Twenty-nine year old Erin Kauffman was enjoying the fruit of years of education and working. She loved her newly purchased home and bought a new car that she could load up with equipment when traveling to school sponsored music events. Erin filled her time with work, music, friends and ministry. Then the unthinkable happened. A driver fell asleep at the wheel and at sixty miles per hour slammed head first into Erin’s car. In this moving conversation with Sharon Betters, Erin describes the devastation of realizing the bottom half of her body was crushed, the long rehab, and how this accident changed the direction of her life. Though Erin continues to struggle with long term pain and acknowledges that her medical care is like a part time job, she offers hope to anyone in similar circumstances. Erin’s story also will inspire listeners to trust that when everything feels impossible, that’s when we can see the Lord’s grace and strength in ways we never imagined possible.
“I end every day feeling defeated because I lost my temper with my kids, vowing tomorrow will be better, but it usually isn’t.” “I don’t want my kids to be “less than” their friends. I also want them to stand out as college applicants. But I don’t think I can keep up with this schedule of activities. They are ages 5 & 9.” “Whenever my child fails at something, I’m the one who feels guilty and judged.” “When is it my turn? I look forward to an hour of quiet time after the kids are in bed and no matter how hard I try, something robs me of my time”
Christina Fox addresses these parenting concerns and much more in this conversation with Sharon Betters and Melissa Weisenfels. How can good parenting motives turn into idols? What should we do when we discover that our motives for doing good things for our kids just might be wrong? Christina is the author of Idols of a Mother’s Heart and numerous other books and articles. Connect with Christina at christinafox.com
Rachel’s Craddock’s mother died after a long battle with breast cancer. Rachel was fourteen years old. Sharon Betters and Melissa Weisenfels ask Rachel some hard questions not just about her mother’s death but also her own decision to have a double radical mastectomy after she learned she had a high chance of getting the same kind of cancer as her mother. Rachel holds nothing back as she talks about how unraveling deep issues in her heart, though painful at the time, ended up as good. Rachel is the author of Slowly Unraveled, Changed from the Inside Out, and in this conversation she explains how the Gospel not only unraveled her grief but slowly unraveled communication and conflict in her marriage, her view of parenting and much more.
Cori Salchert, fosters and adopts “hospice babies” whose own families find it too hard to cope with their child’s terminal diagnosis. She is the mother of over fifteen children, some of whom died in her care. Cori traveled a very painful pathway before she arrived at her calling to caring for and loving terminally ill children so that they will not die alone. Cori shares her journey into this calling in her book, I Will Love You Forever, A True Story about Finding Life, Hope & Healing While Caring for Hospice Babies. She calls her home a “house of hope” where she and her family dedicate their lives to providing dying children with loving hospice care until the end of their lives. In this moving conversation, Cori shares with Sharon Betters how God used her years of undiagnosed pain and illness to help equip her to recognize the value of every human being, no matter how “unproductive” others might view them. Her first hospice baby was Emmalynn, a baby born missing part of her brain. Instead of dying in a hospital, during her last days of life, Emmalyn was surrounded and snuggled by people who loved her. Cori says, “Emmalyn didn’t suffer, she wasn’t in pain, and most certainly wasn’t alone…What a gift it is to be a part of these babies’ lives, to cherish and love them even though they aren’t able to give anything back. No matter your season of life or daily responsibilities, Cori’s story will inspire and encourage you to recognize you, too, have the privilege of offering help and hope through your everyday life.
The fear of miscarriage is one of the biggest fears of a pregnant woman. Jessalyn Hutto, author of Inheritance of Tears, When Death Enters the Womb knows not only this fear but the reality of miscarriage and the accompanying grief. In this conversation with Sharon Betters, Jessalyn brings hope to women who grieve the loss of their children through miscarriage. She offers a priceless gift to those women coming behind her who have experienced such deep loss. Jessalyn reminds listeners that Jesus cares very deeply about every child who is lost to miscarriage and He cares very deeply about every mother who is deprived of that life.
Bryan and his wife Sharon say the diagnosis of severe autism for this son Matthew confronted them with the reality that the future they had planned would never come. In this transparent conversation Bryan touches on how he and his wife went into survival mode, how he initially thought the could “fix” his son, the spiritual struggles they experienced and the impact of Matthew on their other children and their marriage. Though their journey has been challenging, Bryan offers help and hope to anyone experiencing upheaval through circumstances beyond their control.
From Dr. Chuck Betters' series Birth of the Body: Pentecost This Episode: Acts 20:13-38
From Dr. Chuck Betters' series Birth of the Body: Pentecost This Episode: Acts 19:21-41
Relationships can be so hard and sometimes painful. Are they worth it? What are some of the pitfalls of relationships? How can our expectations of others sabotage our relationships? When someone we care about disappoints us, and they will, what questions should we be willing to ask ourselves to determine how to proceed? How can God use disappointments and broken relationships for our good? Is there ever a time to just walk away? Sharon Betters asks Ellen Dykas these questions and more. All of us struggle with relationships. We know this conversation will encourage and equip you to not only understand yourself better but how to navigate what can sometimes be a scary minefield.
In this conversation Chuck Betters sits down with Bill Tell, author of Lay it Down, Living in the Freedom of the Gospel. Bill, former Vice President of the Navigators, experienced severe burnout and depression without warning. Bill discovered he could not “pull himself up by his own bootstraps”. Depression was like the hand of a giant pushing him deeper and deeper into darkness he could not fight on his own. Bill’s calling required him to interact with people but the dark cloud of depression created the need for him to close the door of his life in order to find the pathway of healing. Bill’s honest account of this lonely and dark time encourages each of us to review the grid through which we live life. He encourages us to experience the freedom of living in the freedom of the Gospel rather than the unsatisfying prison of pursuing the praise of people.
From Dr. Chuck Betters' series Birth of the Body: Pentecost This Episode: Acts 18:18-28
In this conversation Sharon Betters talks with Sue Tell about her reaction to her husband Bill’s severe burnout and depression. After over forty years of serving on the staff of The Navigators, Bill suddenly slid into a dark pit of depression. He was incapable of “pulling himself up by his own bootstraps”. Sue describes how their lives dramatically changed from regularly pouring their lives out in ministry to closing the door of their home in order to give Bill time to heal. Along the way, Sue discovered treasures that not only strengthened her to walk with Bill in the darkness, but brought new depth to their marriage. You can hear more from Sue at her blog, Echoesofgrace.com
From Dr. Chuck Betters' series Doctrines of the Church. This Episode: 1 Corinthians 12 & 14
From Dr. Chuck Betters' series Doctrines of the Church. This Episode: 1 Corinthians 12 & 14
From Dr. Chuck Betters' series Doctrines of the Church This Episode: 1 Corinthians 12-14
From Dr. Chuck Betters' series Doctrines of the Church This Episode: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Lisa Kowal heard the diagnosis of breast cancer and recognized she was about to begin a hard journey into the scary land of Cancer. In this conversation with Sharon Betters, also a breast cancer survivor, Lisa shares her journey in a way that will help equip those coming behind her to face this enemy with strength. Lisa and Sharon talk about some of the practical things they did to minimize the power of cancer in their lives as well as some tips for dealing with the after affects of treatment. Have you just heard those words, “You have breast cancer?” or do you know someone who is fighting cancer right now? This conversation is for you.
“Christmas. What will we do about Christmas?”
This was one of the first grief-stricken questions Sharon asked her husband, Chuck, hours after learning of the death of their sixteen-year-old son, Mark. In this poignant interview, Chuck and Sharon Betters speak candidly about how they approached their first Christmas without their youngest child. If you are struggling with grief in this season that is considered the happiest of all, listen, and be encouraged that there are treasures in the darkness designed to help turn your heart toward Jesus.
From Dr. Chuck Betters' series Birth of the Body: Pentecost This Episode: Acts 13:12-25
In this moving and sometimes emotional conversation, Sharon Betters talks to Susanna Musser and her friend and counselor, Heidi Scott, about the sudden, accidental death of Susanna’s adopted son, Tommy. Susanna and husband Joe and their entire family welcomed Tommy into their home even though he had severe disabilities. No strangers to raising a child with disabilities, Tommy quickly experienced unconditional love. Yet God often calls us to hard places that are much more difficult than we expected. Through circumstances no one could have imagined, Tommy died. Susanna, with the help of her counselor, Heidi, shares the story of her family, her passion for adoption of children with special needs and the enormous struggle she experienced in trying to reconcile Tommy’s death while carrying self-imposed guilt no parent should experience. This conversation will not only encourage others in similar places, but will give listeners a renewed understanding of the burdens some parents bear and how to help them.
In this painful and transparent conversation Renee’ Stewart takes responsibility for instigating adulterous relationships. She shares how her behavior shattered families and imposed long term pain on her children. Why would Renee’ shine the light on such a dark place and on such a public platform? Renee’ wants to help others avoid the damage she caused and in this brutally honest conversation pleads with those who are tempted to unfaithfulness and those in adulterous relationships to recognize no good will come from their behavior. The stats of how many people will commit adultery are staggering. The damage caused to families and children by adultery is profound. Let Renee’s story become a fence that helps protect you from inflicting such tragedy on those you love.
Melanoma, the word strikes fear into the hearer, especially when it is a diagnosis for a loved one. Al Groves, a beloved professor at Westminster Seminary and his wife, Libbie, heard these words and knew life would never be the same. In this conversation with Sharon Betters, Libbie shares the journey that her family experienced in the year after her husband Al’s diagnosis of terminal cancer. She offers her family’s story as a means of coming alongside of others who are struggling with cancer, God and grief, answering such questions as
How did you tell your children? Did you ever hit a wall where you felt you just couldn’t handle all the daily responsibilities of raising your children and caring for your husband? Al was a gifted author, beloved professor at Westminster Seminary. Did you ever question why such a gifted man who had so much more to offer had to die? What about lament? How important was and is your faith? How did it make a difference in the way you viewed this diagnosis? How did people help you?
From Dr. Chuck Betters' series Birth of the Body: Pentecost This Episode: Acts 10:34-11:18
We live in a culture that idolizes youth but no matter how hard we might try, we cannot escape the fact that unless we die young, each of us will experience aging. Is it possible to be “ever growing ever green” as we age? Is sixty really the new fifty? What does it mean to flourish in old age? What if we don’t have energy to do all those wonderful things we did when we were younger? When should we start preparing for old age? Is there anything glorious about growing old? In this free-flowing conversation Sharon Betters, age 70, asks Ruth Auffarth, age 88, these questions and more. So grab a cup of coffee, a glass of iced tea, sit back and listen in as two old friends share thoughts about what it means to grow old with grace and dignity.
Mental Illness. The very words chill our souls. Yet, millions of people struggle with mental illness every minute of every day. In this powerful, transparent interview, one family describes their extraordinary battle to find stability when their family life revolves around the insecurity of a wife and mother diagnosed with Bipolar illness. The purpose of these resources is to offer help and hope to those who struggle with “secret” pain, those difficult life crises that are hard to understand or discuss, harder still to experience. Mental illness is perhaps one of the loneliest and most isolating of life crises. This family shares their own story with hopes their lives will offer help and hope to others who fight every day to find purpose. This interview is also for those who love someone broken by mental illness. It is our prayer that many will find help and hope in this powerful interview.
From Dr. Chuck Betters' series Birth of the Body: Pentecost This Episode: Acts 6:8-7:16
From Dr. Chuck Betters' series Birth of the Body: Pentecost This Episode: Acts 6:7-7:16
Corie Weathers, author of Sacred Spaces, My Journey to the Heart of Military Marriage, transparently shares some of her own marriage struggles as a the wife of a military chaplain in this far reaching conversation. Corie was the 2015 Armed Forces Insurance Military Spouse of the Year. One of her responsibilities was to travel on a one-week overseas holiday trip with US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter. Corie’s personal goal for this trip was twofold: to better understand her husband’s deployment experiences and to bring other military spouses along through her daily video podcast and eventually her book. Sacred Spaces. Every military spouse will better understand their own challenges and struggles as Corie doesn’t hold back in taking listeners into the heart of her own marriage. She poignantly describes intimate, sacred moments where her understanding of how she realized that when she said goodbye to her husband when he was deployed to Afghanistan, she was actually saying goodbye to life as she knew it. Her husband would leave part of his heart in Afghanistan. Corie doesn’t leave listeners without hope or a path forward. This conversation is not just for military families. Every married couple will benefit from this strong message of help and hope.
Corie Weathers, author of Sacred Spaces, My Journey to the Heart of Military Marriage is also a licensed professional counselor and hosts the Lifegiver Military Spouse Podcast. Corie and her husband, Matt, co host marriage retreats. For more about Corie, visit corieweathers.com and https://www.youtube.com/user/corieweathers
Please leave your comments about this conversation – your review will encourage others to experience the same help and hope!
Lindsay’s story includes a painful childhood, drug addiction, and how getting caught while robbing a house landed her in prison. Yet all of these broken places led her to a life of freedom. Lindsay’s story helps listeners to understand that sometimes those most awful hurts are pathways to experiencing the very things for which we desperately long.
Pastor Bob Allums, husband and father, learned at thirty-two years of age that he faced the battle of his life against throat and mouth cancer. The possibility that the disease and treatment would destroy his ability to speak, to preach and teach was real. Before the diagnosis, Bob struggled with overwhelming depression, a darkness whose roots he could not identify. In this rich conversation with Chuck Betters, Bob steps back into those frightening days and describes how that period transformed him and helped make him into the joyful man he is today. This far reaching conversation touches on the heart of suffering and will touch your heart with the help and hope of Jesus.
From Dr. Chuck Betters' series Birth of the Body: Pentecost This Episode: Acts 1:17-2:4
From Dr. Chuck Betters' series Birth of the Body: Pentecost This Episode: Luke 24 & Acts 1
From age 12 through the age of 18, Doug began to experiment with any and all drugs, from ecstasy to crystal meth, that he could get his hands on. Over the course of the next few years, oxycodone became the dominant Idol that consumed him and eventually transitioned into a full blown heroin addiction. Doug shares his journey into drug addiction including how being raised “in the church” left him so empty that he searched and found acceptance in the fans of a band called Insane Clown Posse. Their message of sex, drugs and violence filled the empty hole in his heart. In this far reaching conversation, Doug touches on how parents should respond to the manipulation of the drug addict, whether coming off of drugs cold turkey as he did is always the best way, why addicts are willing to destroy their lives and loved ones for that fix, and why addicts often go back to drugs after rehab. Doug offers hope, not only to the person addicted to drugs but to the people who love them. Doug Clarke is a husband and father and works for Jublilee Ministries where he is the Aftercare/New Path Manager.
In this free flowing conversation Stephanie Hubach’s joy in parenting son, twenty-five year old Tim, who has Down Syndrome shines through. Steph talks about how Tim’s birth affected and strengthened her marriage, recognizing the need for consistent discipline, intentionally teaching Tim practical social skills to prepare him for the workplace, giving herself permission to take care of herself so that she could be strong and able to relentlessly pour into Tim’s life, and the priceless gift of Tim to their family. Steph admits to a chronic grief that can pop up even in the middle of joyful fun with Tim. Steph speaks directly to those parents struggling to see any joy in their own parenting of a child with special needs and encourages them to freely determine the best way for them to function as a family.
When you first meet Sue, you sense she is a woman who lives life through a kind and steady grid. Yet still waters run deep and for over thirty plus years Sue and her husband have parented three sons, one of whom was born with Down Syndrome and a brain injury. Joseph will never care for himself in any way. He is totally dependent on his parents for his well being. In this conversation you will hear the story of a mother who has experienced a life crisis that is painful, sometimes hard to talk about, sometimes experienced in isolation, yet filled with the hope of a woman who leans into her Lord for wisdom and strength. Sue’s love for Joseph shines through as she reaches back into the early years of Joseph’s life and gives us a glimpse into the parenting of a child with special needs and a brain injury that will never get better. She describes how her pastor shepherded her and celebrated Joseph’s birth and life. She talks about preparing for that day when they are no longer physically able to care for Joseph or the possibility that they will die before Joseph. Sue gives us a front row seat of loving and parenting Joseph in a way that will not only encourage other families but also help equip those who love them to walk with them in this often difficult place. This conversation is part of our mini series that offers help and hope to families who have children with disabilities.
We now come to the last message in this study on the book of Revelation. Dr. Betters begins this message by taking us on brief journey of the ground we’ve covered by summarizing some of the major themes and key highlights of the book. He then moves into the final passage of Revelation and challenges us with the question, “Utopia, so what?” Since utopia is true, how should we then live and how should our energies and motivations be directed in building the church for God’s glory? Join with us in this last message as Dr. Betters helps to answer these important questions.
We live in a world that seeks utopia and it is all too eager to tell us how to find it. Almost all world religions speak of some euphoric utopia at life’s end. Seeking utopia is a part of our human nature. God has planted this thirst in our hearts for utopia and He has also shown us how to reach it. We now come to the last chapters in the book of Revelation. Satan has been defeated and the apostle John is given a vision of the true utopia for those who have trusted in Christ as their Lord and Savior. The utopia or final state for believers is the creation of a new heaven and a new earth spent with God for an eternity. Listen in as Dr. Betters helps to unpack the symbols used by John to describe this final state and get a glimpse of the ultimate utopia to come.
We see great evil in the world all around us. How can we say that we are now living in the apocalyptic period of a thousand years in which Satan is bound? In this message, Dr. Betters finishes his trek through the scripture showing us when and how Satan has been bound and then we move into the final scene of judgement before the great white throne. Here we will learn about the meaning of the Book of Life and the differences between the first death, first resurrection, second death, and second resurrection.
When will the binding of Satan for a thousand years occur? Or has the binding of Satan already occurred? We now come to the seventh parallel section of our study in chapter 20 of the book of Revelation. Join Dr. Betters in this message as he explains from scripture the timing of when Satan is bound and the method or sense in which he is bound.
As we get older, we become more aware just how fragile life is. We become more attuned to our mortality. The aches and pains we experience as we grow older are signals that are bodies will not last forever and must die. The bible tells us that the children of God will receive a resurrection body after they go to heaven. This will be a special kind of body that will be perfect and never die. That alone should be something to get very excited about. Every ache and pain ought to make us crave being with God in heaven. In this message, Dr. Betters explains what this resurrection body will be like. But more importantly, Dr. Betters asks if you know for sure you are a child of God. Do you know for certain that if you were to die right now you would go to heaven? Listen in as Dr. Betters describes what scripture tells us about these resurrection bodies and how you can know for certain you will receive one when you stand before God after you die.
Do you remember before you were married how you longed for the day of your wedding? Perhaps you are single and looking forward to that day now. Oh how wonderful the feeling! In Revelation chapter 19, we come to what many believe is the majestic climax of the book. This chapter speaks of the marriage supper of The Lamb. This is the day that all Christians should look forward to experiencing. This is the day of hope and the day of glory. We find language, symbolism, and rich metaphors related to marriage woven throughout scripture. In the Bible, Christ is the groom and His church is the bride. However, weddings during biblical times were much different than the weddings of today. We often miss the significance of wedding customs during biblical times and the parallels to what God has done for us in preparation of the Great Wedding to come. Listen in as Dr. Betters describes the glorious scene in heaven of that day and unpacks the details and significance of the marriage supper of the Lamb.
You really cannot understand Revelation chapter 17 and the references to Babylon the Great and the rise and fall of The Mother of all Prostitutes unless you have a grasp for their history in the context of the Old Testament. When the Apostle John writes this portion of his vision he presumes that his readers are familiar with the backdrop of Babylon. Join Dr. Betters as he unpacks the history and influences of Babylon and its founder Nimrod and how the final Babylon will rise from the abyss to try and lure the Church.
The events of Revelation chapters 15 and 16 comprise the fifth of seven parallel sections. Again, the events that transpire between the ascension of Christ and His second coming are described with different details and with greater intensity in each successive parallel section. In this message, Dr. Betters shows how the seven bowls of wrath and their judgements pronounced here parallel the seven trumpets in Revelation chapters 4 through 7. But as the last bowl is poured out in the climactic battle of Armageddon, Dr. Betters raises a very important question. Armageddon – so what? How should we, as Christians, live in light of the knowledge of the end times and Christ’s second coming? Listen in and be challenged in how we should live our lives leading up to the second coming.
The fulfillment of Biblical prophecy is so often missed or overlooked. So much of it has already been fulfilled. Accordingly, we ought not to be surprised by the fulfillment of prophecy of the events regarding the end times either. The Bible tells us what is going to happen and why it is going to happen. However, it does not tell us exactly when Christ will return. In this message Dr. Betters examines the two harvests that will occur. Which harvest will you be included in? Are you sure?
In this fourth parallel section of Revelation we learned more of the details and mission of the dragon and two beasts. Satan and his beasts have steadily been at work since Christ’s ascension. Have you noticed the work and progress of Satan? Over such a long period of time, many do not see the inroads that Satan has made. In this message Dr. Betters identifies seven significant inroads that Satan has made.
In part one we examined the beast that rose from the sea. We learned that the beast of sea represents the systems of government that rises up to persecute the church. Now in part two of this message we turn our attention to the nature of the second beast that rises up from the earth. The two beasts have different origins but they do not work alone. There is a connection between the two beasts that is complementary. Listen in as Dr. Betters unfolds the details about the beast that rises up from the earth and its relationship to the beast from the sea. Dr. Betters will also help us see that these beast are not of the future but have already risen and have been attacking the church for generations and very active today.
In the last message the dragon, also known as Satan, could not destroy the Child of Promise and was cast to the earth. On earth the dragon pursued the woman, who represents the church of Christ, into the wilderness. In Revelation chapter 13, John’s vision continues with the sighting of two beasts that are minions of the dragon. The first beast rises up out of the sea and the second beast rises from the land. Each beast has a specific mission and purpose. Join Dr. Betters in this message as he follows the dramatic story and unpacks the details of the first beast and reveals its meaning and purpose.
We now come to the last message from Dr. Betters on the third parallel section of the book of Revelation. In chapter 11 of Revelation we learn about the two witnesses to come who are also referred to as the two olive trees, the two lampstands, and the two prophets. God endows the two witnesses with power and they will prophesy for forty two months on the earth. Some maintain that these two witness are Enoch and Elijah from the Old Testament because scripture records that both of these men never died but were taken directly to God in heaven. Are the two witnesses specific individuals such as Enoch and Elijah or are they symbolic of something else? Join Dr. Betters as he traces the clues from the scriptures to reveal who these two witnesses really are.
Dr. Betters continues in the third parallel section of the book of Revelation and focuses now on chapters 10 and 11. In the last message, Dr. Betters covered the meaning of the first six trumpets. As he stated previously, the first four trumpets brought ecological disaster to the earth and the last three trumpets are called the three woes. We begin in this message where the first six trumpets have been blown and now there is an interlude before the seventh trumpet is sounded. Listen in as Dr. Betters explains the meaning of the interlude, the seven thunders, the bitter-sweet scroll, the measuring of the temple, and the outpouring of the final woe with the sounding of the seventh trumpet.
In this message Dr. Betters begins the third parallel section of the book of Revelation which covers chapters 8 through 11. As Dr. Betters has explained, each parallel section tells of the events between the first coming of Christ and His second coming with other details and more intensity. In this parallel section, the primary target of the revelation deals with the unsaved people of the world. Listen in as the seventh seal is opened and we learn about God’s judgment against unsaved mankind for their opposition to His commands.
Sexual Abuse of Children – You’ve heard the news stories and read the headlines. Each word drives a sword deeper into the hearts of those who love and protect their children. Tom Stewart experienced a decade of sexual abuse throughout his childhood by his Scout leader. His story is not easy to hear but he pulls back the shades on decades of the cover up of horrific sexual abuse in a highly respected organization: The Boy Scouts of America. In this transparent interview, Tom not only shares his story, but helps equip listeners to see the signs of abuse, the pathway to healing from abuse and the enormous battle that sexual abuse causes in the heart of a child and into his adulthood. Through Tom’s sometimes excruciating words, other victims of abuse will hear a resounding declaration of help and hope, no matter how shattered by the actions of another.
Learn more about Tom and the way God is creating beauty from the broken places in his life: Histruthtransforms.com or Secretknots.net
On October 2, 2006, Marie Monville’s husband entered an Amish schoolhouse in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and shot ten young girls, killing five of them, before turning the gun on himself. The event shocked the nation and left many staggering under the weight of such tragedy and evil. How does a person find hope in such darkness? How does the wife of the man who perpetrated such horror rebuild her life and the lives of her children? How could she ever forgive her husband? How did the Amish community react to Marie and her family? Listen as Marie’s story reveals what she learned about forgiveness and that one Light can still shine in the midnights of life.
In August 1999 I sat by myself on my living room couch. Alone. Scared. I tried to piece together what 13 years of sexual addiction had just torn apart. My life was unraveling and I couldn’t harness my out of control behaviors. I remember thinking I might be better off dead than alive. As I sat there I had a lot to consider. I was a sex addict. (From 2.bebroken.com) Exposure to pornography at the age of 12 was Jonathan’s first step downward into the abyss of sexual addiction. Listen as Jonathan describes that downward spiral and what turned his heart toward healing and a redeemed marriage.
Dr. Betters continues in the second parallel section with the study of chapters 6 and 7 of Revelation. In this message, we learn the contents of the scroll as the Lamb of God opens and reveals six of the seven seals. Again, Dr. Betters helps to explain the rich symbolism and the meaning behind the numbers found in these passages that uncover more of the detail behind God’s plan for the end times.
As noted in several of the previous messages in this series, the book of Revelation was not written in chronological order and must not be read and understood as such. It must be read and understood as seven parallel and progressive sections. Each of the seven sections tells the story of the events between the first and second coming of Christ in a progressive style that provides more detail, intensity, symbolism, and application. The first parallel progressive section covers chapters 1-3 and speaks of the Holy Spirit who dwells among the churches. The Holy Spirit speaks, prods, and challenges the churches. We see the revealed Christ in chapter 1 and in chapters 2 and 3 there are specific messages to the congregations in Asia Minor that were representative of congregations throughout the age of the church. In this message, Dr. Betters begins the study of the second parallel section which covers chapters 4-7 and opens with John’s glorious vision surrounding the throne of God.
The letter to the church at Laodicea from Christ is the seventh and the last of the letters to the churches in Asia Minor. There was not one word of praise or commendation in this letter. The congregation was half-hearted, materialistic, given to temptation, and compromised the truth. They were rich in wealth and material goods but poor in spirit. The majority of the body of this congregation was not even saved. This church was nauseating to Christ. What was so tragic about this church was that they did not even know it. Is that possible? Yes! And sadly the state of this church is representative of some churches today. Accordingly, it should not alarm you that many who attend churches today are lost and don’t know it. The rebuke of Christ in this letter to the Laodiceans is designed to get their attention and change their hearts. Listen in as Dr. Betters traces the impact of the history and geography of Laodicea on the church there and ways to discern if your heart is making Christ nauseous.
God uses, as He does with all seven letters to the churches in Asia Minor, characteristics of the city and culture in which the people lived to bring home the message of who He is. The city of Philadelphia had no power, wealth, or military. Yet God had strategically placed the little congregation in Philadelphia at the crossroads of opportunity to demonstrate what can be done by them through Him. He opened a window of opportunity that no one could shut. In part two of this message, Dr. Betters challenges us to recognize how God has strategically placed and equipped us and the church today with His gifts and power. The divine windows of opportunity have been opened wide before us. What window has Christ opened in order for you to use your gifts, talents, and abilities?
The church in the city of Philadelphia in Asia Minor was the sixth of seven churches that received a spiritual evaluation directly from God through Jesus Christ. The city of Philadelphia during this period was characterized by terror, fear, and powerlessness. The church, however, was able to rise above the circumstances of the city and provided stability in an unstable world. Join Dr. Betters in this message as he explores the historical and geographical context influencing Philadelphia, the details of the letter from Christ to the church, and the expectation of the church to endure and overcome with the power of Christ when faced with despair, failure, and difficulty.
In our continuing study of Revelation, we come to the fifth letter from Christ to the church at Sardis. Here we have a wealthy church that has many people and ‘programs.’ Nonetheless, Christ delivers a scathing rebuke by calling them a dead church. How can a church like this be pronounced dead? In contrast to some of the letters to the other churches, the church at Sardis was not reprimanded for being dead from the poison of heresy within the church or resulting from persecution from outside of the church. God’s postmortem of Sardis reveals another cause of death. Join Dr. Betters as he explores the cause of death at Sardis and how the church today can remain alive.
How do we as Christians live in the world without drifting? How do we keep Christ front and center in our lives when immersed in a culture that would lead us astray? How do we discern the black and white areas of Christ-focused living as well as the gray areas without falling into legalism or compromising the standards of what we believe as Christians? These are the same questions and struggles that the church at Thyatira faced and faltered. This church abounded in many great works but the praise was overshadowed by Christ’s dire rebuke and warning to them. In this message Dr. Better examines the demographics and historical context of ancient Thyatira to uncover some of the factors behind the root problems that negatively impacted the church there. As with the other letters, the warning from Christ in this fourth letter is just as relevant to the church and individual believer today.
In this sermon, Dr. Betters examines the third letter from Christ to the church at Pergamos. The city of Pergamos was considered the seat of authority and power in the province of Asia and labeled by Christ as the seat of Satan’s throne. The church at Pergamos was established right in the center of Satan’s power base. So did this church fail under the extreme pressure of trial and persecution? No! The church at Pergamos triumphed and stood strong even at the cost of martyrdom. Satan knows that sometimes a full frontal assault can cause us to rise up, lock shields, and keep the faith stronger than ever. As we fight the good fight on one front with blood, sweat, and tears, we must be ever vigilant in the ever so subtle but deadly tactics of Satan on another front. Tune in as Dr. Betters traces the failure in the church at Pergamos and the wake-up call for you, me, and the church today…if it’s not too late!
In this message Dr. Betters moves on to examine the letter to the church at Smyrna. Unlike all the other letters from Christ to the seven churches, this is the only letter that does not contain a rebuke. This letter is one of encouragement, reassurance, and hope in the face of trial and suffering. Join Dr. Betters as he uncovers the rich history of the city of Smyrna and its people, the specific message from Christ to this church, and the application to those today in the midst of pain and suffering.
If at the end of your life you were able to travel back in time and visit yourself much earlier in life, what would you tell yourself? What commendation or encouragement would you give? What warning or exhortation would you stress? What essential wisdom or knowledge would you emphatically share? Much of scripture serves this purpose to a degree. Scripture is not some type of dusty account of history. Likewise, Christ’s seven letters to the seven churches are timeless. These letters are important messages for the church today as much as they were for each church then. However, don’t make the mistake to think these letters are written to the church as a whole without any direct personal application. Dr. Betters continues in the study of the first letter to the church at Ephesus and digs into the significance not only to the church today but also to you and me.
Remember playing in the sand, your back to the ocean, oblivious of the huge waves heading toward you? Suddenly, a mountain of raging water crashes over your body and not only slams you body into the sand but before you can catch a breath, another huge wave pulls you out to into a rip tide. Andrea Maher experienced tumultuous life events that threatened to pull her under a raging ocean of grief, shattered dreams and hopelessness. Her oldest son’s battle with drug addiction ended when drug induced hypothermia took his life. Several years later, her youngest son made a decision that would forever change his life and resulted in imprisonment. How does a mother not just survive but find hope and joy when a tsunami of grief repeatedly slams her deeper into an abyss of sorrow? In this transparent conversation Andrea shares her story as a means of offering help and hope to others slammed by life, who are holding on by their
Marriage can be difficult under any circumstances, but adding a child with special needs adds a whole new level of challenges. In this wide-ranging conversation Steve Demme, shares his passion for helping build strong marriages, but in particular wants to offer help and hope to fathers, and even more specifically to fathers of children with special needs. Steve’s special relationship to his son, Johnny (who has Down Syndrome) shines through in this transparent interview and offers help and hope not only to fathers, but to anyone who longs to know God as Daddy.
Steve Demme’s Bio Steve and his wife Sandra have been married since 1979. They have been blessed with four sons, three lovely daughters-in-law, and three special grandchildren. Their fourth son John has Down Syndrome and lives with them in Lititz, PA. Steve has served in full or part time pastoral ministry for many years after graduating from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and has served on the board of Joni and Friends Eastern PA. He is the creator of Math-U-See and the founder of Building Faith Families. Steve, you have a long list of credentials but I bet that at the top of your list is marriage to Sandra and parenting your children. Thank you for your willingness to share your story today.
The framework of the seven progressive parallel sections in the book of the Revelation were established in the previous message. Now Dr. Betters begins the detailed analysis of the first parallel section which covers God’s messages to the seven churches in Asia Minor. These seven churches were actual active churches of the day. However, the same characteristics of these churches are also found in churches throughout the ages and even in the churches of today. In this message, Dr. Betters focuses on the first message to the church at Ephesus.
Up until this point in the study of the book of Revelation, Dr. Betters has evaluated the four major views or systems of interpreting this book as well as the questions raised about the millennium period, when the great tribulation will occur, whether Christians will have to endure that tribulation, and an analysis of the signs leading up to the second coming of Christ. In this message Dr. Betters goes into greater detail behind the style or manner in which the book was written. He explains how it cannot be read and understood as an unfolding or unveiling of events in chronological order but as a revelation using progressive parallelism. Dr. Betters will show how the unveiling of Jesus Christ and His second coming is best understood as seven parallel and progressively intensifying accounts.
The second coming of Christ is mentioned over 300 times in the New Testament alone. Only the doctrine of salvation is mentioned more times than the doctrine of Christ’s second coming. We can be sure He is coming again but the ‘when’ of His coming has many Christians scratching their heads. The Bible says no one knows the day or hour but it speaks very clearly that there will be certain signs that will presage His second coming. Listen carefully as Dr. Betters examines the scriptures that point to the events and signs that signal Christ’s second coming.
Scripture teaches us as Christians we will suffer and face trials of many kinds due to our faith. We have and we will suffer for righteousness sake. But what about the suffering and persecution during the end times known as ‘the’ great tribulation? Will we suffer the wrath of God? If the Church does not escape the great tribulation through the secret rapture as many wrongly believe, what hope does the Church have? Please join us in this message as Dr. Betters continues to answer these questions and focuses on the grace of God which will enable us to experience the peace that passes all human understanding and the knowledge that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.
One of the keys to understanding when Christ will come again has to do with the timing of the millennial kingdom. When will Christ’s reign of 1000 years occur? Dr. Betters discusses the 3rd and 4th major views regarding Christ’s second coming in this message and the way scripture is used for each of the positions.
Studying the book of Revelation will challenge you. It is not easy to comprehend. You must exercise and discipline your mind in the study of scripture. In fact, a major key to unlocking the mysteries of the book of Revelation is to know and understand many of the other 65 books of the Bible. We must look to scripture to help us interpret scripture and not the opinions of people. Dr. Betters continues in this message to critique and challenge the second major view of Christ’s second coming. Open your Bibles and follow along closely as we listen carefully to what scripture tells us about Christ’s second coming.
The second coming of Jesus is foundational to the Christian faith. You cannot call yourself a Christian without believing that Jesus is coming again for His people. The Bible clearly teaches it. However, someone who holds a different eschatological view on the second coming of Christ does not mean they are not a Christian. There are Christians who have differing opinions on the timeframe, events, and framework of the second coming. In this message, Dr. Betters will begin by examining two of the four major views.
The book of Revelation is an enigmatic book of the Bible for many people. It is filled with end-time prophecy cloaked in symbolism and allusions. Many Christians find it hard to understand and avoid studying it altogether. It’s beauty, supreme importance, and distinctive relevance is sadly missed by many. Come journey with Dr. Betters as he builds the context of this amazing book from the prophecies of the Old Testament along with the major themes of the Bible to unveil the mysteries and reveal the culmination of God’s redemptive plan. You just may be tempted to think of Revelation as a book of new beginnings as much as one of end times.
From Dr. Chuck Betters' sermon series Exodus: The Delivered Nation and Her Deliverer - Exodus 1-22.
From Dr. Chuck Betters' sermon series Exodus: The Delivered Nation and Her Deliverer - Exodus 1-22.
From Dr Chuck Betters' sermon series Exodus: The Delivered Nation and Her Deliverer - Exodus 1-22
Paul and Jill Miller welcomed their sixth child, daughter Kim, into their home in 1982. It became apparent at a young age that Kim was behind in her developmental milestones. Kim was also non verbal. Kim was diagnosed as having autism, a diagnosis that was just beginning to be recognized by doctors. Kim’s diagnosis not only created enormous stress on their family, but also isolated Jill as she learned how to parent their precious child. In this remarkable conversation Paul and Jill take us back to those early days and how Kim’s life has taught them life-changing spiritual truths and led them to fall deeper in love with Jesus.
Paul is author of numerous books, including A Praying Life and A Loving Life. He is Executive Director of seeJesus, a global discipleship ministry which he founded in 1999 to help Christians and non-Christians alike “see Jesus.” Since that time, Paul has taught more than 100 seminars, written a dozen interactive Bible studies, and released three books focused on seeJesus’ core themes: the person of Jesus, love, and prayer. Jill is Paul’s wife. Jill has her own list of amazing accomplishments, including starting businesses and writing curriculum is known for her sense of humor and faith. With all of their amazing accomplishments that offer help and hope to hurting people, perhaps their most loved one is raising their six children and enjoying life as grandparents to 12 grandchildren.
Exodus 21-23 are designed to show the Israelites how to live out the Ten Commandments. Each of these examples are likely real life cases of problems where people needed help in knowing how to apply the law to their everyday lives. Moses was teaching the people how to apply the Moral Law (Ten Commandments) to Civil Law.. He describes the different punishment for murder, kidnapping, divorce, adultery, cursing parents, etc. Each one reflects application of specific commandments. over the years the Israelites interpreted these instructions through the grid of revenge rather than grid of grace. Dr. Betters compares the words of Moses compared to the instructions of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount to respond quite differently to personal offenses. We see in this message that the message of Jesus does not counter Jesus declarations. Jesus’ instructions lead us to ask, “Have we no rights when we are abused or hurt or offended?”
Exodus 21-23 are designed to show the Israelites how to live out the Ten Commandments. Each of these examples are likely real life cases of problems where people needed help in knowing how to apply the law to their everyday lives. Moses was teaching the people how to apply the Moral Law (Ten Commandments) to Civil Law.. He describes the different punishment for murder, kidnapping, divorce, adultery, cursing parents, etc. Each one reflects application of specific commandments. Over the years the Israelites interpreted these instructions through the grid of revenge rather than grid of grace. Dr. Betters compares the words of Moses compared to the instructions of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount to respond quite differently to personal offenses. We see in this message that the message of Jesus does not counter Jesus declarations Jesus’ instructions lead us to ask, “Have we no rights when we are abused or hurt or offended?”
From Dr Chuck Betters sermon series Exodus: The Delivered Nation and Her Deliverer - Exodus 1-22
How do you pursue your dreams when congenital muscular dystrophy threatens your independence? When you are born with muscular dystrophy, you face a life of muscles breaking down and unable to keep up with growth spurts. During a normal growth spurt, Tim’s spine curved so rapidly that without a full spinal fusion he would die. At fourteen years of age, Tim had a fourteen-hour surgery to straighten his spine. Tim describes how the post surgical excruciating pain led him to question God’s wisdom and love. He had to relearn to walk and cannot walk without assistance to this day. But instead of turning inward into a bitter, young man, Tim persevered through a year of pain and rehabilitation that helped him learn to walk with assistance. The recovery period gave him time to think through his goals of pursuing a life of purpose. His dream to attend a university away from home seemed impossible, but Tim persevered and successfully learned how to navigate the streets of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, while attending Drexel University. Tim successfully completed the “fast track” of earning two degrees during the same time period: a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Engineering and Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering. Rather than using his disability to open doors, he was determined to help people know him as a person, not as the student with a disability. In this transparent interview, Tim shares some of the ways he intentionally interacted with other students and school staff, as well as his own understanding of God’s purposes for his life.
In this message Dr. Betters unpacks the Third Commandment: You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses His name. This commandment includes all speech that that attempts to move us outside the sovereign control of God. Profane speech demonstrates that we are living outside of God’s love and control. Aggressive language that reveals strong anger, cursing where we call down evil on another, profanity that defame God’s name, blasphemy, obscenity, indecent words, vulgarity, crude words: all of these are violations of this commandment where we are stepping outside of the sovereignty of God. Even polite words can be blasphemous, designed to hurt. Speech reveals the heart. Swearing reveals the heart condition. In order to keep the commandment, use speech for worship and encouragement, alerting people who hear you that you are a child of God and your speech reveals that intimacy. What’s in our heart will find its way through our speech.
In this message Dr. Betters unpacks the meaning of the Second Commandment, the law on worship. It is a description of how to approach our Holy God. The first commandment addresses idolatry in general. The second commandment addresses the use of relics and icons but it goes deeper into the heart of worship. How does a sinful man approach a Holy God? What are the prohibitions of worship? We don’t need a mediator, we need the provision of God Himself. God warns against any aids in worship and declares we don’t need them because He is enough - He is the Lord our God. Is there blessing that comes through biblical worship? Are there cursings for false worship? When we see God’s instructions, we recognize that it is imperative for us to understand God’s terms for worship.
God prohibits idol worship. God declares that the people of Israel must not imitate the behavior or lifestyle of the people who worship Molech and other idols. At first reading, we might think none of the specific warnings apply to us today. Yet, the parallels are clear. Molech worship tried to control the future by controlling the present through politics. Men sacrificed their own manhood, sacrificed their children in “the fire” and government controlled the people. In this message, Dr. Betters unpacks the similarities between this period in the history of Israel and the culture of today. God warned the Israelites to wipe out any false prophets. The false prophets He describes sound like the false prophets of today who encourage us to look inside of our own hearts for a spark of good and to embrace religion on man’s turns. These religions reduce God to man’s level. Such events are signposts of the Second Coming of Jesus.
Is there more than one way to heaven? Do we believe what the Bible says about salvation, that there is only one way to Heaven? How do we know for sure that the Bible’s way of salvation is true? No matter what your religion, it requires faith. The Christian’s faith is rooted in the Bible alone, not the Koran, the Watchtower publications, the writings of the Hindu faith, or any other writings. We do not believe in a salvation by works. By faith, we trust the way of God’s Word, that He alone is God. Once more, Dr. Betters takes us to the Book of Deuteronomy to unpack what it means to trust and worship God alone and better understanding what idols we might be embracing that exist in our own cultures. God warned the Israelites not to engage in witchcraft or occult practices, declaring that anyone who did these things was detestable to the Lord. God calls on His people to holiness. The worship of Molech is atheistic and worships man as the center of the world, not God. God’s Word warns us to recognize that such worship seems harmless but a part of Satan’s strategy to destroy the people of Jesus. Molech worship lives today. Once more, we know that such holiness is impossible and we need Jesus.
Why did God bring Israel to Mt. Sinai and announce that He was about to give them the Law? Why does the Law exist? Exodus 20 is a recitation of the Law and the Book of Deuteronomy explains the Law. Dr. Betters teaches that there are at least four reasons for the Law, starting with the desire of God’s heart that we learn the fear of God and as we do, we will be prompted to obedience and that obedience to God will open up the way of experiencing God’s best. The Law is designed to channel God’s best into our hearts. Second, God gives us the Law to produce a godly “seed.” According to Romans the Law is given to show us that we are a lost people, to stir within us that we cannot keep the Law, that God is a Holy God and that we need Jesus. Rather than hopelessness, the Law is a precious gift. The Law was put into place to lead us to Jesus and experience God’s grace. The Law is grace. In this message, Dr. Betters unpacks the meaning of the first commandment: You shall have no other gods before me.
In this message Dr. Betters continues a study of the incredible and awesome history of the Covenants. All of the history of the Israelites has reached a great climax. They have traveled three months since their exodus from Egypt. They stand in front of Mt. Sinai, a part of Mt. Horeb. Moses goes up the mountain to meet with God. God reminds Moses that He has stood underneath the Israelites, ready to catch them if they fall. In this sacred moment, God unwraps the promises of the Covenant and paints a picture of the identify of the children of Israel as His precious nation. Dr. Betters shows how this passage is a picture of the freedom we have today in keeping with the promises God made to Moses in this moment. In this message we see the awesome beauty of the history of the Covenant promises of God and that we are the fulfillment and recipients of that Covenant of Redemption.
Edie’s father died when she was four years old so when her mother brought a new man into her home, she welcomed him as her father. When she was nine years old, this man began regularly raping her in her home. By the time she was twelve, he was taking her to hotel rooms where he trafficked her to men and women for the purpose of sex until she was seventeen. How does a child recover from such monstrous treatment? Edie’s story offers help and hope to anyone who has been sexually abused and shines a light on the spreading horror of sex trafficking in the United States. She offers people who work with children suggestions on how to spot a child who is being abused and how to help them. This compelling story uncovers a devastating dark side of humanity but also is a message of help and hope for hurting people.
You can contact Edie at: http://healingrootministry.com/
What is a covenant? Do we really understand what a covenant is? In this challenging message, we learn the meaning of covenant, the language of the covenant,. Dispensations of the covenant, God’s eternal promises, Abrahamic and New Covenants, Eternal Covenant of Redemption, Covenant of Grace, etc. Dr. Betters challenges listeners to dig deep to understand these fundamental meaning of the Covenant.. There are passages in the next few chapters of Exodus that can be confusing without a solid understanding of the promises of the Covenant. The Israelites are camped at the foot of Mt. Sinai, just as God directed. Now they wait. How does this part of the Israelite journey reflect the eternal Covenant of Redemption? Dr. Betters unwraps the beauty of the Covenant in this minis series on Exodus 19.
How should a person order his life, marriage, church, business in order to avoid burnout? Though he was faithfully leading the Israelites and caring for their needs, he was in danger of losing sight of the priority of the Word and his family. In this message Dr. Betters shows how we are not an “island unto ourselves” but part of a community. What happens in our personal lives and marriages flows over into the community. We have an added responsibility to live our lives with the Word and intimacy with Jesus as the core. We can all relate the pressures Moses experienced, too much to do and not enough time.. In this message we find a strategy for helping bring order to our lives with the Word as our top priority.
Jerry was born with Cerebral Palsy but Joan had worked with people who have disabilities throughout her life, so she thought she knew what she was signing up for when they were married over twenty years ago. In this transparent interview Joan and Jerry share the challenges of marriage and disability but you might be surprised at what they describe as some of the greatest challenges. Listen in as Joan and Jerry not only offer hope to people with disabilities, to parents of children with disabilities, but also remind us that the dreams of people with disabilities aren’t much different than anyone else. This conversation is not just for people with disabilities!
Follow Joan on her blog, Raising My Ebeneezer at https://joanborton.com/ where you will find numerous posts about marriage: Marriage Monday.
For more information about seeJesus, where Joan and Jerry joyfully help people with disabilities “see Jesus” visit https://www.seejesus.net/ - A Global Discipling Ministry.
A courageous woman shares her lifelong struggle in the grip of the lies of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Though typically thought of as someone who washes their hands repetitively, some people struggling with OCD have other rituals and some merely struggle secretly in their thoughts. OCD is a debilitating disease that affects millions of Americans and it is believed less than 10% seek treatment. Here is a look at the many different faces of OCD and how Gail’s increasing knowledge of the disorder and her faith have helped her begin to heal.
A little boy, abandoned by his mother, shifted from one abuse-filled foster home to another, bullied not only by kids but by some of his foster parents, beaten and sexually assaulted by numerous people tasked with being his protectors. How does this little boy find a way to grow into a man who trusts God and offers help and hope to others through his story? Bob Petterson opens up about the terrifying loneliness of abandonment, the pain of abuse and the memories of hateful abuse at the hands of foster parents. Is there any hope for such a child? Bob says there is and lives out that hope every day. This story is for anyone who has experienced childhood abandonment, abuse, hatred, and separation from siblings. Yet it is for anyone who longs to know that in this messy, broken world, there really is hope of redemption and purpose for those shattered by the abuse of others.
When a man loses sight of his spiritual priorities, spiritual burnout is sure to follow. Moses’ father-in-law recognized that Moses was headed for burnout as he observed the heavy responsibilities Moses . Moses was so focused on caring for the overwhelming needs of the Israelites, he was in danger of spiritual burnout. His father-in-law recognized that Moses had lost sight of the priority of the Word and his family. In this message Dr. Betters unpacks specific practical ways we get mixed up about our own priorities in a way that affects not only our personal lives, but our marriages, churches, and businesses.
From Dr. Chuck Betters' series"Exodus: The Delivered Nation and Her Deliverer - Exodus 1-22"
Exodus shows us how God operates and cares for His people. Throughout the story are types: Pharaoh a type of Satan; Egypt, a type the world in which the believer, must live; and the desert represents our struggles of faith as we walk through this life and live our lives. Even though God had provided manna when they were hungry, they now attack Moses because they are thirsty. They are so angry Moses thinks they are ready to stone him. Eventually the Israelites spoke against God, asking, “Can God set a table in the desert?” They were angry with God and did not trust Him which led to their murmuring and complaining. When they complained about food, God gave them manna, a means of pointing to Christ who would come as the Bread of Life. Instead of trusting Him to give them enough water, they complain again. In response to their grumbling God leads them to a place where there is no water. In this story we are reminded that nothing that happens to me is by fate, chance or mistake. Why can’t we see that those times of testing are God’s way of drawing us closer to Himself?
The Israelites were angry with God. The drama of their delivery is behind the Israelites and now they are headed to the Land of Canaan. There is no turning back. . They travel into the Desert of Sin, an appropriate place for exposing their root problem. The whole community starts grumbling against Moses and Aaron because they want more water and food. Imagine, the WHOLE community grumbled. Counting the women and children, that was over 1,000,000 complainers. The undercurrent of grumbling was contagious. Grumbling led to exaggeration and wish they were still in Egypt where they “sat around the fires and ate anything they wanted.” They fantasized about their Egyptian life. These were slaves, no better than the animals. God miraculously meets their need for food by sending manna. We, like the Israelites are traveling through a desert, on our way to Canaan. Like the Israelites, we have to pass through the desert of Sin. The journey of the Israelites is not much different from our own. Is it wrong to be angry at God when the journey doesn’t go the way we hoped? What’s the difference between being angry with God and grumbling against God?
The Israelites respond to God’s delivery from Pharaoh’s army with a glorious song of praise. In their words we get a glimpse of the way our own bodies will become temples for the dwelling place of the Lord. If the Holy Spirit dwells in my body because Jesus has redeemed me by His blood and resurrection, then when I leave the physical building in which I experience corporate worship, I am still “at church.” If I am truly a Christian then I am taking the temple of God with me. Like the Israelites, we can respond to this great miracle with the same words, “He is my God and I will praise Him, my father’s God and I [will prepare for Him a dwelling place]. You might be going back to the grind of Monday but that same Holy Spirit that hovered over the Israelites lives in you with all of His power. The same power that split the Red Sea lives inside of you!
The Israelites have just experienced an incredible victory over the Egyptians. Their response is to fear the Lord and to submit to the leadership of Moses. It’s appropriate that Exodus 15 starts with the word “Then.” In response to the remarkable miracle of redemption and salvation from the Egyptians, their fear of the Lord leads them immediately to worship. Exodus 15:1-5 is the three-stanza hymn of a redeemed people. In Revelation we are told that when we are in heaven, we will sing this very song of Moses that deals with many of the great doctrines of the faith. Dr. Betters paints a picture of the beautiful way we can respond in the same way to the miracle of salvation, not only here in daily life, but in eternity. We learn that as we worship, the strength of the Lord fills us.
Does God have the right to interrupt my life, knowing that by placing us in a crucible of suffering, He will bring us to a point of faith? The Israelites experienced God interrupting their lives, but He tells them that they need to turn back so that they will experience His power. The Israelites looked up as the Egyptians chased them. They cried out to the Lord and to Moses, expressing loudly that they preferred to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert. Fear and distress gripped their hearts, terrorized by the pursuit of Pharaoh. The Israelites were not prepared for war against such an enemy. Has God interrupted your life as He interrupted the lives of the Egyptians? Once more, we see parallels between the journey of the Israelites and our lives today.
The high school girl innocently began her dangerous journey. Her body was too fat and limiting her calories seemed like the right way to lose a little weight. Slowly, the weight melted away, but one day, this beautiful young woman realized that she had starved herself into a medical crisis. Rebecca shares her painful journey and how she found the pathway to recovery. Rebecca invites listeners who are struggling with any eating disorder to change course and find that same pathway to recovery.
This is one of the most amazing miracles of the Old Testament. In this chapter we watch this pivotal miracle that made a way in the desert, the parting of the Red Sea. This miracle is disputed by theologians and hotly debated. Israel is primed for Revival, boldly and joyously moving away from Pharaoh. Suddenly, as they are obeying the Lord in their journey, God commands them to turn back, to camp between a mountain and a sea. God is using them to bait Pharaoh, promising that God Himself will protect them. What is God doing? They are on their way and God tells them to circle back toward Egypt. By obeying God the Israelites have no way out unless God miraculously intervenes. There is a bigger picture that the Israelites cannot see, similar to the challenging journeys of many of us. Yet, God was at work behind the scenes. Take hope, struggling, fellow strugglers. God is always working out something miraculous behind the scenes of our lives. Just like the Israelites, God is leading you to a place of victory.
God is in the process of preparing the nation of Israel for the outpouring of His presence. Some of us, like the Israelites, live on the edge of the desert where we long to go back to life before Jesus. Yet, we keep our eyes on the promise of God to provide all we need for that difficult desert journey. God gives us what we need when we need it. As He did for the Israelites, God promises to provide protection, power and purpose for each of His children and His local churches that are committed to His call. One of the ways He makes provision is through community, in particular the faithful local church. He calls on us to remember His past faithfulness as we long for Him to meet us in our own desert journey.
Does God perform miracles today? What is the greatest miracle of today? God certainly performed miracles for the Israelites. How did He lay the groundwork and prepare the Israelites for those miracles? this message Dr. Betters unpacks the third principle of miracle preparation where he provides all that we need to live distinctive and holy lives on the edge of the desert. They were no match for the journey. God provided protection, power and purpose. Just as God provided everything the Israelites needed to journey through the desert for forty years, He provides all we need for our life journeys. Your spiritual desert might be a broken marriage, a terrifying medical diagnosis, a prodigal child. The Israelites are on the edge of the desert, close enough to turn back to Egypt. Choices had to be made, just as we must make choices in the way we respond to our own personal deserts. There is great hope as we will see in the journey of the Israelites.
Post Abortion Stress Syndrome – though not recognized in the medical community as a real diagnosis, thousands of women and men live with guilt, anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, depression and more in the aftermath of abortion. In this interview Jill, a woman who has had four abortions, offers her story as a means to encourage women and men to discover the healing that is possible. Marian, director of a crisis pregnancy center, describes alternatives available to those terrified by an unexpected pregnancy.
For more help and hope visit:
http://www.rachelsvineyard.org/ Rachel’s Vineyard is a safe place to renew, rebuild and redeem hearts broken by abortion. Weekend retreats offer you a supportive, confidential and non-judgmental environment where women and men can express, release and reconcile painful post-abortive emotions to begin the process of restoration, renewal and healing.
Facing an unexpected, crisis pregnancy? Find Help and Hope at a local Crisis Pregnancy Center: http://www.lifecall.org/cpc.html
The Israelites had clung to the promise of God’s deliverance and now the moment has come. What was that joy like as they prepared to leave? The Promised Land was in their grasp. How many listeners like the Israelites are claiming the same promise that sorrow endures for a night and joy comes in the morning? And yet, the Israelites experienced great sorrow before the promised deliverer arrives. Are you tired of waiting? Take hope from the journey of the Israelites. In this mini series on Exodus 13 we learn three principles that lay the foundation for God to work miracles, to start a revival, whether in a local church or in an individual’s heart. The first one is that God always distinguishes His people by setting them apart as belonging to Him and then puts His reputation on the line in their lives. In this message we see how God commanded that the Israelites set apart every first born. He calls on us as individuals and local churches today to identify as His children and secondly to live a life of holiness.
Exodus 12 is a pivotal chapter in the biblical record, a spiritual turning point for the Israelites that challenges us today. God demands circumcision as an outward sign that the Israelites belonged to him, that they are set apart from other nations. But what about the heart? On what are you basing your salvation? The Israelites tried to be righteous through their good works. Yet we see that even in the Old Testament, good works fall short when it comes to salvation and pursuing God’s approval. So what is the answer? In this message Dr. Betters clearly outlines what it means to be secure in our salvation, purchased by God’s only Son. But you may ask, what about good works? Listen and be encouraged by God’s truth.
In this message we enter into an intimate experience of the first Passover. Passover means “to skip, to jump, to passover.” It symbolizes a divine consecration, an outward severance from the land of Egypt and an inward severance from everything Egyptian or heathen. We see in this Passover a type of our own salvation.The feast of the unleavened bread is a type of the walk of the Christian. The instructions to the elders is a type of the Christian home. As we study this pivotal chapter in the biblical record, we will see the beauty of the rich spiritual heritage which is ours as Christ and we will be challenged to walk in the Spirit in our everyday lives.
While enslaved by Egypt, many Israelites embraced the worship of Egyptian gods. They served idols, defied God. Yet God delivers the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. Why? And how does their deliverance parallel with our own deliverance from sin into experiencing the redeeming love of Jesus? Could the people of Israel claim that God delivered them because of their goodness? Can we? In this message we not only see a picture of our own redemption, but we learn about the beautiful meaning of the Passover and how it applies to us today.
During the Plague of Darkness, God instructs Moses regarding the tenth and final plague and also instructs him about the Passover. Moses continues to dialogue with Pharaoh but Pharaoh's heart is hardened. God is about to send a plague that will destroy Pharaoh’s claim to deity and his attempt to lead the Egyptians to worship their many gods.
When they leave for work they pray they will return home, safe and sound. Their spouses have to learn how to live with the constant possibility that a gunshot will destroy their family. Police officers are a special breed of men and women who go toward danger in order to protect their community. How do a husband and wife build a marriage when there is a constant tension of uncertainty and low grade fear? Joe and Candice Racite speak frankly about their own struggles as a law enforcement family, acknowledging the work of law enforcement affects almost every area of life, as well as relationships to family and friends. They speak with candor about the challenge to keep their marriage fresh, learning to recognize when fights escalate because of underlying job related fears and frustrations, and how they protect their marriage from temptation. Let Joe and Candice help guide you through the minefields of marriage as a law enforcement family.
How do you find purpose when you are excruciating pain 24/7, survived 7 surgeries and most likely face more? Add to that your status as a double amputee. In this interview, you will meet Warrior Woman Gracie Rosenberger, who was 17 when she was in an almost fatal car accident. In our conversation Gracie freely shares what life and marriage is like with such challenges. Gracie’s story reveals a woman of strength and determination in the face of impossible obstacles. She has become an accomplished snow-skier, has performed as a vocalist before presidents and shared stages with some of America’s biggest stars, singing for hundreds of thousands. Gracie and her husband, Peter, have two sons and co-founded Standing With Hope, a non-profit organization that provides prosthetic limbs to people in Kenya.
For more encouragement from this remarkable woman, purchase Gracie’s book, Gracie, Standing with Hope. Visit her website, Standing With Hope - http://standingwithhope.com/
Darkness so dark you can feel it. Darkness in the Old Testament symbolizes two things: Divine judgement and alienation from God. Consider how terrorizing total darkness is. Now apply that terror to separation from God. The Plague of Darkness struck at the very heart of the Egyptian worship system. The sun god, Rou, was “faithful” in providing warmth and light. The Egyptians had numerous other sun gods. While other plagues resulted in loss of property, personal discomfort and physical pain, this plague stripped the Egyptians of all of their gods. They were alone in the universe, alienated from their “creator, stripped of any hope with death knocking at the door. Yet Pharaoh still refused to let the Israelites go.
Did Pharaoh think that God couldn’t possibly have any more “tricks up His sleeve?” His hardened heart refused to let God’s people go. God wasn’t finished sending plagues to break the power of the Egyptians belief in their gods. But God also was teaching the Israelites to understand His power as the one true God. He sends swarms of locusts whose abilities to shear, loudly swarm, and annihilate show similarities to the progression and devastation of sin. Locusts start out small and almost invisible but they slowly grow into thousands of swarming insects bent on one thing, to devour and destroy everything living thing in their path. The lessons of the plague of the locusts pull us up short as we consider the “little sins” we allow to take up residence in our own hearts.
As the plagues unfold, Pharaoh tries to find a way to manipulate Moses and the people of Israel, by offering them an opportunity to sacrifice to their God “here in the land.” But God’s directions were clear, the Israelites were to journey three days in the wilderness so that they would be completely separate from the Egyptians. The war between good and evil rages between Pharaoh and Moses, symbolizing the ongoing spiritual war over every believer’s soul. Satan tries to convince us to compromise. God demands complete obedience.
The Egyptians had many gods. One of them was a lion-headed goddess: Sekhmet. This goddess supposedly protected them from epidemics. They also depended on another god, Imhotep, the god of medicine and the guardian of the healing sciences. This time the plague of boils reveals the powerlessness of these gods. We watch a great war between Pharaoh and the God of Israel, symbolizing the war between Satan and God. Each plague dismantles a god of the Egyptians, similar to the way Jesus dismantles the power of Satan in our lives. The gods were truly silent and now God hardens Pharaoh’s heart.
Instead of recognizing that he could not win against the God of Israel, Pharaoh hardens his heart. The next plague attacks personal property. This one hit the pocketbooks of the Egyptians as livestock fell to inexplicable disease. Their cow god suddenly had no power. How much more will it take for Pharaoh to surrender to the God of Israel? What gods do we cling to and how will our God reveal their powerlessness to us personally?
First blood. Then frogs. Now gnats and flies. God does not warn Pharaoh this time. Have you ever experienced an attack of Florida “no see-ums?” You know they are on your skin because of the multiple stings each one delivers. No see-ums, as bad as they are, have nothing on the gnats that descended on the Egyptians. This time God unveils the powerlessness and uselessness of the Egyptian priests. Even their magicians concluded that these plagues had to be from the hand of God. One by one, God uses symbolic means to dismantle each god and the false priests of the Egyptian religion. The application for today is profound.
“Whatever burdens my fellow caregivers struggle with, I can help. I’m willing to put it all out there.” So says Peter Rosenberger in the introduction of his book, Hope for Caregivers. Chuck Betters starts the conversation with Peter by asking him to share what credentials he has that enable him to make such a bold claim. When Peter married Gracie over thirty years ago, he knew she had some medical issues resulting from a near fatal car accident she was in at the age of 17. The full impact of those issues did not hit him until a medical crisis shortly after their marriage. Suddenly he knew that his life would always center on taking care of Gracie’s medical crises and that truth overwhelmed him. To this date, Gracie lives 24/7 with excruciating pain, is a double amputee and has had 78 surgeries with more likely. In this interview Peter candidly discusses the pressures a caregiver experiences when solely responsible for his or her spouse’s physical needs. He humbly admits that he has made every mistake possible and is passionate about helping other caregivers avoid those pitfalls. Peter’s sense of humor makes his sometimes tough counsel easy to swallow and results in hope for the caregiver that is drowning in exhaustion, regrets, anger, grief and longing for something better.
For more hope and help from Peter, visit https://caregiverswithhope.com/ Caregivers with Hope offers helpful tools to families, clergy, counselors, medical practitioners, employers and businesses that are faced with addressing the needs of the caregiver. Standing with Hope Inc. is a non profit evangelical prosthetic limb outreach to developing countries.
More about Peter Rosenberger: Peter is the founder of Caregivers with Hope and author of Hope for the Caregiver.
Each plague lasted about seven days, possibly starting on the Sabbath and each one giving time to Pharaoh to repent. To no avail. Each plague strips away another layer of the religion of the Egyptians. In this message Dr. Betters asks, “Why did God send frogs as a plague?” As he unpacks this answer, we are reminded again of how packed with meaning each word in Scripture is. Frogs symbolized a god to the Egyptians and when these frogs descended on Egypt, the people suffered mightily at the hands of their “god.” We watch as God delivers over the Egyptians to the consequences of worshiping other gods. The application to our lives becomes very obvious.
Pharaoh continues to dig in and the plagues continue to force him to recognize that his battle is not against Moses, but against Almighty God, the God of the Israelites. Why did God choose these specific plagues? How did the plagues not only destroy the lives of the Egyptians but also send a spiritual message about their gods? God is always doing something more than we first see.
Exodus 5 ends on a note of discouragement, fear and doubt. God reassures Moses that no matter how loud Pharaoh roared, God would have the last word and His plans would succeed. IN this message we, too, are reassured by the promises of God and the meaning of His name, El Shaddai, our sustainer and provider. The Israelites are about to learn that God knows them in a personal and intimate way. Through the Exodus they were about to witness His power, might and personal grace. All of this is a picture of the promises of the Covenant. If we know Jesus, these promises are ours as well. The breaking of the shackles of slavery demonstrates the way God breaks the shackles of sin and guilt when we recognize our need for Jesus and surrender to His redemption and love.
Is it possible to break free from drugs after a lifetime of using? Shelley Tribbitt says yes. After using drugs for over thirty years, Shelley broke free from the drugs, but then had to face the collateral damage she had done to her family and friends. In this poignant interview, Shelley describes the devastation drug use brought on her family, including the loss of custody of her children. Her daughter, Bay, joins the conversation and describes how she reconciled with her mother and why she never gave in to the temptation of drug use, even though they were readily available.
Drug use in our culture is an epidemic. It isn’t just teenagers who are falling to this dangerous life choice. Shelley’s story reminds us that drugs know no age limits, We also see that reconciliation with estranged family members is possible, though the pathway to reconciliation will be painful and often long.
The world today is pulsating with agony. Wars, rumors of wars, devastating natural disasters, rampant violence and disregard for the humanity of others contributes to a despair that we are hurtling toward a brutal and chaotic explosion. This is most likely how the Israelites felt about their own personal life of slavery under the brutal Pharaoh. Pharaoh acknowledged that he did not know the God of Moses and would not obey Him. But the Israelites had their own repenting to do and in this message we watch as Moses requests the opportunity to lead the Israelites to a place of sacrifice and atonement for their sins.
Moses is a man in a learning process, learning to yield to the power of God. Each of us who loves Jesus is on the same journey. Dying to self becomes a daily discipline as God calls us to hard places. Imagine Moses as he warned Pharaoh, the man who appeared to have all the power, that dire plagues were coming if Pharaoh refused to let go of God’s people. Surely, Moses had to die to self, fully surrendered to whatever happened to him by God’s hand. Opposite Moses is Pharaoh, whose heart hardened against Moses and the God of Moses. Once more, we see a parallel to our own spiritual journey.
Moses confronts Pharaoh and learns that his only power is the power of God. Throughout this familiar Bible story are treasures of practical application to us in our own spiritual walk. In every picture we see of the old man Moses, we also see a strong rod. What is the symbolism of that rod in our own personal lives today? How does Moses’ interactions with Pharaoh reflect the interactions of the Holy Spirit in our daily walk of faith? How does this story teach us to recognize the evidence of the Holy Spirit in our own lives?
Watch for parallels between your relationship to Jesus and the battle between Pharaoh and Moses over God’s people. As God calls Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, Moses responds with two questions: Who am I? Who are you (God)? Two essential questions each of us needs to ask if we are ever going to realize the dramatic power of the Holy Spirit in us.
Renee Dixon compares her life as a widow, single mom, and small business owner with mounting bills to climbing a hard, rocky pathway filled with gnarled roots. She describes how she learned to grasp those roots as a means to pull herself along the hard road of life that sometimes felt impossible to travel. Those gnarled roots along the pathway helped shape Renee into a woman whose own determination, endurance and grit encourages the very people she is called to serve. Renee is Executive Director of Freedom Hills Therapeutic Riding Program, located in Port Deposit, Maryland. Freedom Hills offers help and hope to people with disabilities as they find freedom through horseback riding. Riding horses helps them forget their limitations and “feel as though they are flying.” Renee is a Warrior Woman whose story will encourage listeners who walking hard paths to recognize how hard times can prepare you to offer help and hope to others.
Learn more about Freedom Hills Therapeutic Riding Program: http://www.freedomhills.org/
For three and a half centuries since their entrance into Egypt, Israel enjoyed a peaceful, prosperous and settled life in the land of Goshen. But this prosperity came at a price they did not realize. Without knowing it, they were being tied to the Egyptian pagan religious system at the cost of their own faith. Like frogs in a kettle, through intermarriage with Egyptians and moral compromise, they were slowly choked by the oppression of a heathen system. But what does this have to do with us today? In this message Dr. Betters asks and answers the question, “How do God’s people live in a heathen society which appears to tolerate their religious convictions without being dramatically influenced, compromised, and then eventually conquered?” The message of Exodus is totally relevant for our culture today.
Travel with the Israelites as they struggle to understand how to live free from slavery in a relationship with their Sovereign God. If we are honest we will see ourselves in their journey. This series of messages will give us a fuller appreciation for Covenant theology, a practical appreciation for the sovereignty of God, and help us catch a glimpse of the invisible war and the power of God over the forces of evil. Through the journey of the Israelites we will fall deeper in love with Jesus and have a better understanding of the plan of redemption, from election to glorification.
Suicide was on teen Denise Haas’ mind a lot, so much so that she tried several times to take her life. Her parents’ divorce shattered her world and living didn’t seem like a good option. In this compelling conversation, Denise transparently shares her story in an attempt to grab the hands of teens who are struggling with similar darkness and compel them to “just hold on!” This conversation not only offers help to the hurting teen but also gives practical ways to come alongside a teenager who is contemplating suicide.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Call 1-800-273-8255
The third leading cause of death in 15 to 24 year old’s, suicide and depression amongst our teens is a topic that cannot be ignored in our culture. This is an honest conversation with two professionals who have helped teens and families through these struggles. Parents and teens alike will benefit from strategies to help teens find hope in the darkness of depression.
There are many paradoxes in scripture. For instance, if we want to live, we must die. If we want to receive, we must give. If we want to gain, we must lose. If we want to be exalted, we must humble ourselves. To experience fruit in our Christian life, we have to go through pruning. Life in the spirit is a paradox, exactly the opposite of what we think constitutes successful living. In this message, Dr. Betters examines the paradox of suffering and experiencing joy in the middle of the pain. The Paradox Principle: The power to live by God’s principles and to enjoy power in the spirit comes by way of the fruit that is ripened on the vine. If fruit is harvested too early or too late, it loses its sweetness, abiding in the vine is the key to sweet fruit, yet sweet fruit always requires bitter pruning.
Is it possible to suffer with joy? Dr. Betters says yes as he unpacks the Saul Principle: Every Christian is called upon every day to make difficult choices in his or her pursuit of success. The tension in these decision making processes is centered around two diametrically opposite value systems, the first being the world’s definition of success and the second being the complete abandonment of one’s spirit to the cause of Christ.
What is life in the Spirit for the Christian? Dr. Betters challenges us today with the Balaam Principle: If you are bent on silencing the voice of God in your life God will step aside and second your motion.
What does it mean to experience life in the Spirit? In this message Dr. Betters unpacks the Paul Principle: Every Christian can expect personal attack for adhering to such a ridiculous message (the Gospel) yet God is in absolute sovereign control of all such attacks and promises absolute victory to the one who has carefully defined and followed a biblical life purpose.
Is the prosperity gospel the true gospel, i.e., if you are good enough, have enough faith, nothing bad will happen to you. You will be wealthy and pain free. In this series, Dr. Betters outlines five biblical principles that equip Christians to be over comers, people who refuse to be defeated in this broken world. The prosperity promised by God doesn’t look anything like the false prosperity gospel being promoted by many today. Dr. Betters starts with the Job Principle: There are treasures in the darkness that if discovered and properly navigated will produce an incredible sense of intimacy with Christ resulting in spiritual victory that would not otherwise come.
In this message Dr. Betters examines the practice of fasting, including the historical practice of fasting. What part does fasting have in the life of today’s Christian? Is there a purpose? Does it bring us closer to God? Does it get God’s attention? Similar to the way people tried to use public giving and public praying to try to get God’s approval, fasting has been used as a means to wipe out sins without the sacrifice of Jesus. What about today? What motives should drive any of our relationship to Jesus? Dig deep with Dr. Betters to uncover the purpose of fasting today.
Do you know how to pray? Most people admit they are dissatisfied with their prayer life. Why do you pray? In this message Dr. Betters unpacks “The Lord’s Prayer” challenging listeners to realize this is actually “The Disciple’s Prayer.” Each word is pregnant with instruction on how to approach the Lord in prayer. Dr. Betters states that unless we learn how to pray we will never experience genuine transformation.
There is a reward for right motives: a sense of spiritual satisfaction, a vision and a heart for God, and more work entrusted to your care. Matthew 6:1 is not an easy passage to understand. In this message Dr. Betters tackles the hard topic of giving, financial stewardship and encourages us to push our motives for giving through the grid of Scripture. Are we giving out a sense of glory or a sense of duty. How do we give under grace rather than under law?
Joy was 10 years old when her mother lost her battle with aggressive breast cancer. Her two little sisters looked to her for mothering. She became her father’s confidante as he tried to navigate grief, single parenthood, and looking for a new wife. Joy’s story gives listeners a glimpse into how the loss of a parent can create an ever widening circle of grief that takes years to process. Some grief counselors believe that a child who experiences a sudden loss of a significant loved one before the age of 18, does not process their grief until the average age of 40. Imagine all the decisions and life choices experienced through the grid of buried grief. There are no easy answers to how to help a child navigate such sorrow, but Joy offers help and hope through her story.
What gets inside the head of a young girl who almost starves herself to death because when she looks into a mirror she sees a fat, ugly, lonely girl? In this special interview, Rose (not her real name) takes us inside the heart of a girl who “cannot remember a time when I wasn’t overweight and looked different from my thin and pretty friends. I could never wear the same style of clothes as them….I couldn’t borrow PJ’s for an impromptu sleepover or a bathing suit for a spontaneous swim. I was hyper-aware of the space I took up in a car, and I was always too heavy for a piggyback ride. The small inconveniences turned into huge insecurities and I became consumed with how my weight made me different.”
This story will offer help and hope to those whose battle with food has taken up prime residence in their everyday world. Rose does not sugar coat her battle and admits that even now, she must practice strong disciplines in order to fight old habits.
A young woman, beginning to see her career as a recording artist start to take off, hears the diagnosis no young person ever expects: “You have an inoperable brain tumor.” Listen as Caitlin describes her battle to find a cure and then just when life seemed to be turning around, the news that shook her world once more. Caitlin Jane’s story is a light in the darkness for all who face uncertain days, but especially young women and young men as they struggle with the challenges of walking by faith when life is turned upside down.
Caitlin’s response to life a life-threatening medical diagnosis, disappointments, even to standing against the tide of cultural pressures is a remarkable and a unique journey that will encourage other young people that they have choices in the way the respond not only to typical teenage pressures, but life crises and a culture that challenges their core values. Caitlin’s story will “raise the bar” for young women who are struggling – in that they will realize they, too, can walk by faith when life seems to be a mess.
To book Caitlin Jane for a concert or to check out her music, visit: http://www.caitlinjanetunes.com/
Depression affects more than 15 million American adults – 6.7% of the population 18 or older. Twenty percent of teens experience depression before adulthood and 70% will have more than one episode of depression before adulthood. 8.3% of these teens suffer depression for at least a year. Women are twice as likely to suffer from depression.
Untreated suicide is the leading cause of suicide and suicide is the leading cause of death for young people ages 15 – 24.
These overwhelming stats demonstrate that depression is a broad life crisis with many unique circumstances but in this interview Danielle’s story demonstrates that depression in young adults is often rooted in childhood. It’s easy to hide depression and to slowly hide away rather than fight the dark feelings of sadness, loneliness and worthlessness. Danielle offers help and hope as she describes the steps she took to find her way back to a life of purpose.
For more help and hope about depression and counseling options:
https://www.ccef.org/topic/depression
Thin. Fat. Thin again. Dieting. Binging. Starvation diets. Grapefruit Diets. Low Carb. Thin. Fat. Thin Again. Constance Rhodes understands the obsession of young people with body image. In this conversation, she shares her own roller coaster struggle with weight. Young people and adults alike will find a friend in Constance as she transparently tells her story of weight loss, weight gain and the thin cage in which she found herself trapped. Out of her struggles has come her book: Life Inside the Thin Cage, A Personal Look into the Private World of the Chronic Dieter. Constance is also the founder and CEO of FindingBalance, a non-profit health and wellness organization dedicated to helping people eat well and live free. Constance offers numerous resources on her website at Findingbalance.com. Constance’s story will encourage young people that there is help and hope when faced with feeling fat, inadequate and “less than.” That hope is not in food. Listeners, young and old, will be encouraged to find balance in their view of food and life.
Life Inside the Thin Cage – A Personal Look into the Private World of the Chronic Dieter: by Constance Rhodes https://www.amazon.com/Life-Inside-Thin-Cage-Personal/dp/0877880387
In this wide-ranging interview between two mothers who have experienced the grief of the deaths of their children, Nancy Guthrie transparently answers questions asked by Sharon Betters. From how to push the question “why” through the grid of God’s love and sovereignty to practical counsel for protecting marriages assaulted by grief, Nancy doesn’t flinch. Nancy’s loss of two children uniquely qualifies her to offer help and hope in sorrow’s darkest night. No matter how shattered the heart, there is hope in the midst of grief.
Jim and Karen Weaver’s international adoption journey led them to welcoming not one, but two boys into their family, making them parents of four daughters and two sons. In this transparent interview, Jim and Karen share the highs and the lows of their journey, from how they began their adoption adventure, to the realization that life would never go back to the normalcy of raising four daughters, to how the extreme emotional meltdowns created chaos in their home but also taught them about their own hearts. Through their story, listeners will get a glimpse into the reality of the hard places in adoption and also learn how they can come alongside of adoptive families. Listeners will recognize how adoption has transformed Jim and Karen and drew them into a deeper awareness of their need for Jesus, the power of prayer and how to look inward when hard times come.
Nearly aborted, graciously adopted and later abandoned, Lori Sealy has traveled the road of atheism and lived a life of autism. Lori was diagnosed with Autism as an adult and not long after that diagnosis learned her son had autism as well. Lori is a classical pianist and songwriter whose music gives a transparent view into the intimate struggles of faith and life that Lori experiences. In this interview, parents of a young man who has autism ask the questions burning in the hearts of other parents with high functioning children that struggle every day with the "thorn of autism." This is a powerful and rich conversation that will help parents better understand their children and how to help them find their way in a sometimes confusing and scary world.
Travel with Lori on our life journey through her blog, where you can also learn more about her music and contact information for booking Lori for an event.
Some of the questions Lori answers:
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As a child, did you believe that there was something different about yourself? Did you intuitively know?
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Does having autism help or hinder your ability to parent children? A neuro-typical child and a child with autism?
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What are your thoughts on the neurodiversity/neurodivergent movement?
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Do you talk openly to your son about his autism? Do you use the label “autism” or “Asperger’s” regularly or do you try to avoid the use of labels as a way to identify him? In other words, do you believe that the differences that come along with autism are something to be celebrated and embraced or something to be changed and improved upon? Where do you draw that line and find a balance?
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Now that you are an adult, what is something you wish your parents knew about you (and perhaps even appreciated and celebrated) when you were a child? What would’ve helped you be more comfortable in your own skin during childhood and adolescence?
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How does autism affect – positively or negatively – your belief in God? How does it shape your view of the supernatural? How does it impact your ability to believe in something you can’t “see”?
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What recommendations would you give to people in the church to help them build relationships with adults on the spectrum? What kinds of things make friendships or relationships difficult for you? What should people NOT do?
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If a child or adult is experiencing a meltdown or overwhelm, what’s the best thing a bystander or friend can do to help?
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From a sensory perspective, what calms the “noise”? What is something that “down-regulates” you when you are feeling overstimulated?
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Our son frequently says that he thinks “God created him wrong”. Is this something you ever struggle with? Essentially, many of the things that make you wonderfully unique are, by human standards, worthy of a place in the DSM-V. How does this make you feel?
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What is the very best thing I can do as a parent of a child with high functioning autism to help him reach his potential and become the person God created him to be?
From pro soccer player to ex-convict Matt Maher's story is a call to young people to think carefully before making impulsive decisions because the consequences could be deadly. Matthew Maher was born and raised in a strong Christian family, and for most of his life he was a good reflection of that upbringing. He was extremely successful in academia and sports, attended Temple University on a scholarship and was contracted to play professional soccer. Then one night, he made one choice that changed everything.On March 7th, 2009 he made the decision to drink and drive – causing a fatal accident. Charged with aggravated manslaughter and sentenced to 5 ½ years in prison, Matthew faced choices he never imagined possible.
After serving his time, he started sharing his story around the country. He is now an author, speaker, and instigator for the social influence platform #iCONVICTION. He currently authors a monthly column in the Cape May County Herald and his daily blogs have been read by over 500,000 people in every state, 121 countries, and in 67 different languages. In addition to the God-given influence through his multiple speaking and writing platforms, Matthew is also the Director of Student Ministries at Coastal Christian Church in Ocean City, NJ. He is married to Sarah.
Visit Matt's website to learn more about his story and how to book him for an event: http://www.themattmaherstory.com/
No matter how “innocent” the television program or movie, it seems that the entertainment industry is determined to normalize same sex attraction, starting with the youngest of children. How does a parent help a child navigate sexuality when so many forces come against a biblical worldview? In this interview Cooper Pinson offers practical help so that parents can respond with confidence and wisdom as they help their children understand sexual integrity in a sexually broken world.
Find numerous resources and practical help in raising your child to understand their sexuality in this very difficult culture: http://thestudentoutreach.org/about/
Cooper shares more about helping teens with same sex attraction in this blog post: First Steps: Student and Same Sex Attraction: http://thestudentoutreach.org/2016/12/02/first-steps-students-ssa/
Porn invades younger and younger hearts, often unbeknownst to parents. When encouraged to protect their children from tech invasions, many parents vehemently declare that their child is so innocent and so protected, they are not concerned. Their relationship to their child is so secure, that their child would not secretly travel into such a dark world. Sadly, these parents are often in the dark when it comes to what their young children have already seen and experienced through innocent interaction in video games, research for reports, etc. In this interview, Cooper Pinson lays out practical ways that parents can put into place additional layers of protection and how to talk to their children about the dangers of porn and how to respond when exposed.
Cooper Pinson loves student ministry and has a passion to help students live with sexual integrity. Through Student Outreach, a subsidiary of HarvestUSA, he partners with and equips parents, youth ministers and workers, Christian schools and colleges, those involved in collegiate ministries and other organizations to help students follow Christ with their sexuality while finding their life, true identity and joy in Him.
From pro soccer player to ex-convict Matt Maher's story is a call to young people to think carefully before making impulsive decisions because the consequences could be deadly. Matthew Maher was born and raised in a strong Christian family, and for most of his life he was a good reflection of that upbringing. He was extremely successful in academia and sports, attended Temple University on a scholarship and was contracted to play professional soccer. Then one night, he made one choice that changed everything.On March 7th, 2009 he made the decision to drink and drive – causing a fatal accident. Charged with aggravated manslaughter and sentenced to 5 ½ years in prison, Matthew faced choices he never imagined possible.
After serving his time, he started sharing his story around the country. He is now an author, speaker, and instigator for the social influence platform #iCONVICTION. He currently authors a monthly column in the Cape May County Herald and his daily blogs have been read by over 500,000 people in every state, 121 countries, and in 67 different languages. In addition to the God-given influence through his multiple speaking and writing platforms, Matthew is also the Director of Student Ministries at Coastal Christian Church in Ocean City, NJ. He is married to Sarah.
Visit Matt's website to learn more about his story and how to book him for an event: http://www.themattmaherstory.com/
In this interview that is part of our Warrior Woman series, you will meet Karen Marsh, mother of Victoria. Within hours after Victoria’s birth, Karen and her husband learned that their third daughter had Down Syndrome. Though initially frightened by this news, Karen and her family’s love for Victoria grew deeper as they recognized the awesome privilege of raising such a precious daughter. This story will encourage parents of children with Down Syndrome to realize the unique joys that can be theirs as they raise their children. But there is more to this story. Victoria was diagnosed with a life threatening cancer that resulted in the amputation of her leg. In this interview, you will hear about the courage and determination of a young teen to take back her life and her family’s determination to continue to fill Victoria’s life with experiences and opportunities to grow and learn, no matter what her physical condition. Listeners will also learn how to come alongside of families like Victoria’s, not just to help, but to soak up some of the joy and love that naturally flows from children with Down Syndrome.
It's tougher than ever to be both a kid and a parent today. The world's culture is continually pushing an anything goes sexuality on our children. What’s a parent to do in order to help their children navigate their sexuality, social media, the ever present temptation of pornography, the continuous bombardment of our sexually explicit culture. In this Help and Hope resource, Dr. Betters and Sharon interview Dan and Heather Wilson. Dan and Heather live with the daily challenges of raising their four children and transparently share how parents can have the “sex talk,” how to help your child when you catch them in sexual sin and practical ways to shepherd your child’s heart. Dan works for Harvest USA and is a seminar leader and counselor. Please let us know how this resource has encouraged and equipped you!
Multiple Sclerosis is a disease that attacks the Central Nervous System. The Multiple Sclerosis Foundation estimates that more than 400,000 people in the United States and about 2.5 million people around the world have MS. About 200 new cases are diagnosed each week in the United States. In this interview, that is part of our Warrior Women series, you’ll hear Sherry Bitler describe what it was like to hear the diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis and how it changed her life. Listeners with a similar diagnosis will be encouraged by the way Sherry has confronted this disease and learned how to continue to invest her life in the lives of others, even though she is sometimes physically limited. This conversation will also help “healthy” people better understand how such a diagnosis can affect everyday life and how they can come alongside of someone whose constant companion is Multiple Sclerosis.
In 2009, Debbie Kahler was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer, a disease that strikes fear in the hearts of anyone familiar with its deadly prognosis. Over the next few years, Debbie battled this virulent disease while watching her mother and her mother-in-law lose their battles against the same disease. Debbie now says she has added “cancer fighter” to her job description as she continues to pursue treatment that has extended her life in a way that enables her to enjoy her family and friends. Most people would respond with despair to such tragic losses, tempted to give in to the fear of losing their own battles. Yet that is not the message of Debbie’s journey. Listeners will agree that Debbie is a Warrior Woman, a woman who faces life’s challenges with faith, grit and determination to experience joy and purpose. We are confident Debbie’s story will help equip you for your own life journey, no matter what your circumstances.
What better cornerstone for a strong spiritual legacy than the love of the husband and wife for one another. Even better than that stone is the solid rock of the love of our Bridegroom for us, His Bride. As Dr. Betters continues the series, Building a Spiritual Legacy, he pulls beautiful truths about the love of the Bridegroom for His Bride. The Bridegroom is not only pleasing to the eyes of his Bride, but grace flows from His lips as He loves her perfectly. The Psalmist calls on the Bride to recognize that the love of the Bridegroom clothes her in raiment far more beautiful than anything anyone else can offer. He reminds her that she belongs to Him, but encourages her to understand the choice, to daily live under the protection of that love, is hers.
There are six key scriptures that specifically address homosexuality. Dr. Chuck F. Betters interviews three pastors about their understanding of how to interpret each one of these Scriptures, not as stand alone words, but as part of the whole Bible. Listeners will be struck not only by the clear presentation of hard words, but by the Shepherd’s hearts of each of these pastors, Rev. Dan Betters, Rev. Jim Weaver and Dr. Chuck L. Betters. This conversation will equip Christians to better understand and communicate with kindness and compassion a scriptural position on homosexuality. The Scriptures are: Genesis 19 Leviticus 18:22 Leviticus 20:13 Romans 1:26-27 1 Cor. 6:9-10 1 Timothy 1:10
What’s the Christian Church to do? Western Culture not only accepts but also celebrates same sex attraction as an appropriate and normal lifestyle. Are people who do not accept homosexuality as right and appropriate hateful and small minded? In this frank conversation, Dr. Chuck F. Betters leads a conversation with three pastors about how the historical response of the local church to homosexuality and those in a gay relationship has contributed to an environment that is not conducive to demonstrating the Gospel. These pastors offer their own observations and understanding of the real application of the Gospel, not just to those in a homosexual relationship but every person struggling with sin.
Our western culture encourages us to embrace and encourage same sex attraction as normal, appropriate and just as “right” as any other sexual relationship. But is it? In this transparent interview Sharon Betters talks with Donna and her counselor, Ellen Dykas about Donna’s struggles with same sex attraction. Donna transparently shares that prior to marriage she had some inappropriate relationships with other women that were sexual in nature. In college her relationship with the athletic director led her to other inappropriate friendships but ultimately ended in extreme guilt and feeling trapped. She says that as a married woman, she found herself having “wrong feelings” for a couple of women. Donna’s story is universal and her transparent story will help college students and any woman with similar struggles.
Like all of our Help and Hope resources, this interview goes beyond a discussion of the life crises and digs deep into how each of us can grow in our own walk of faith as we process and face the challenges of living by grace in our messy world.
Our western culture encourages us to embrace and encourage same sex attraction as normal, appropriate and just as “right” as any other sexual relationship. But is it? In this transparent and sometimes emotional interview, Dr. Chuck F. Betters talks with three men and their counselor about their struggles with same sex attraction. No question was off limits and listeners will hear these men address such issues as how people who loved them treated them even though they disagreed with their life choices; how their churches responded; and ways they were hurt by people who claimed to be Christians. They talk about their greatest misconception about God’s view of sex and homosexuality and how same sex attraction is similar to other sinful choices. Listeners will be encouraged to hear scriptural principles that will help guide relationships with loved ones who identify themselves as gay and how parents can create a safe place for their kids to talk to them about same sex attraction. Like all of our Help and Hope resources, this interview goes beyond a discussion of the life crises and digs deep into how each of us can grow in our own walk of faith as we process and face the challenges of living by grace in our messy world.
Do you have questions about same sex attraction? Is it wrong? Is it ok? Are you struggling with same sex attraction personally? Is your child? What about your church? What is their response? In this interview with Dr. Rosaria Butterfield, Chuck and Sharon Betters ask these and many more questions about a topic that has numerous families struggling to understand. Dr. Butterfield is uniquely qualified to provide guidance and wisdom to those who are desperate for help and hope as they are challenged by life choices that are foreign and even scary. Listeners will be encouraged and better equipped to walk this pathway as well as come alongside of others who are struggling with same sex attraction.
From Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert by Dr. Rosaria Butterfield Rosaria, by the standards of many, was living a very good life. She had a tenured position at a large university in a field for which she cared deeply. She owned two homes with her partner, in which they provided hospitality to students and activists that were looking to make a difference in the world. There, her partner rehabilitated abandoned and abused dogs. In the community, Rosaria was involved in volunteer work. At the university, she was a respected advisor of students and her department’s curriculum. And then, in her late 30s, Rosaria encountered something that turned her world upside down—the idea that Christianity, a religion that she had regarded as problematic and sometimes downright damaging, might be right about who God was, an idea that flew in the face of the people and causes that she most loved. What follows is a story of what she describes as a “train wreck” at the hand of the supernatural. These are her secret thoughts about those events, written as only a reflective English professor could. (Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert, by Dr. Rosaria Butterfield)
For more about Dr. Butterfield visit http://rosariabutterfield.com/
"Your prognosis is poor. You have a few months, maybe a year." In this transparent interview, Mike and Sherry share their response to hearing these shocking words. Their story is one of help and hope, as they describe the impact of cancer on their children and marriage, the reaction of friends and the practical implications of such a diagnosis. They share how their journey has encouraged them to enjoy each day, knowing that life is fleeting. And they share practical suggestions for those just starting this cancer journey. Their story will not only encourage the cancer fighters, but will equip those who love them to help them find the right medical care and face the challenges of each day.