Lighthouse Faith: Recent Episodes
FOX News Radio
Fox News Religion Correspondent Lauren Green uses her wealth of stories, vast network of contacts, and her own extensive study of theology to take the listener on a unique journey of spiritual discovery.
The Catholic Church is in a precarious cultural moment in history as it balances the need stay true to its teachings, but also to being a welcoming church. And there's hardly a more reasonable voice out there than Bishop Robert Barron, who says the church must first decide what it means by the word "welcoming". It can mean different things to different people depending on what side of the political aisle they sit. But Barron's passion is really engaging the younger generations who are fast losing their interest in organized religion. His ministry Word on Fire is raising money to give thousands of Bibles away to freshman entering college as a way to thwart the indoctrination into secular worldviews. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Barron, a best-selling author and Bishop of the Rochester-Winona Diocese in Minnesota, talks about how to reach the younger generations and what are the challenges and hurdles to overcome. Then he also talks about the recent conversion to Catholicism of actor Shia LaBeouf, who sat down with him for a lengthy podcast interview about his walk of faith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It's full circle for actor Kelsey Grammer. Beer and Faith. Grammer, the star of the long running sitcom "Cheers," its spinoff "Frasier," and the recent film "Jesus Revolution," is living his dream of running a brewery. The result is his new microbrew, Faith American, the product of his own brewery in the Catskills he founded in 2015. He recently promoted two of four flavors of the ale at one of the most popular restaurants in the Hamptons of New York's Long Island, 75 Main in Southampton. That's where Lighthouse Faith podcast caught up with him. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Grammer talks about the beer, his personal faith, and the fact that he considers God as his partner in this venture to bring a renewed faith in America and a reinvigorated prosperity to a community that has lost some of its economic luster. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Born in America, raised in Silver Springs, Maryland, Rabbi Dov Lipman loves the land of his birth. But the call from Israel, his spiritual home, was so great that he renounced his citizenship after winning a seat in the Israeli parliament, the Knesset. The first American born MK in thirty years. He experienced what is known as Aliyah, the Hebrew word meaning rising, ascending, or exalted. It's the word used for Jews making the pilgrimage to Israel. Lipman explains, "There was a moment on a visit to Israel in 2003 where I just felt we have the opportunity to raise our family in the Jewish state. Why not take advantage of that blessing from God to be part of that? And it was the best decision we ever could have made." It was because of his dual life that Lipman was able to create Yad L'Olim, an organization that helps Jewish immigrants from all over the world on Aliyah, navigate the complex bureaucracies of moving to Israel. With the war in Ukraine, Yad L'Olim opened "a special division to provide guidance to tens of thousands of Olim expected to arrive in Israel affected by the war in Ukraine." On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, recorded at the National Religious Broadcasters convention, Rabbi Lipman talks about how he came to love Israel his home, and still adore America, the place that gave him life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Men becoming women, women becoming men... Best-selling author Stephen Strang says it's why he wrote his new book, "Spirit-Led Living in an Upside-Down World." Strang is the founder and CEO of Charisma Media, a Christian multi-media company. He's probably most known for his books on the faith of Donald Trump: "God and Donald Trump," "God, Trump and the 2020 Election," and more. But his latest book focuses on faith itself. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast recorded at the National Religious Broadcasters convention in May, Strang talks about how he uses his skills as a journalist and a devout Christian, to unveil the spiritual realm of our lives, which he believes is far more real than the physical. He says common sense has been thrown out the window. And even though people are fighting back, it's an uphill battle. The only weapon that people of faith can rely on is hope in the Holy Spirit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, has become all too familiar a topic today. Most of the time it's in reference to veteran soldiers, coming back from the theater of war after experiencing its untold horrors. But what about the victims of conflict who are not trained soldiers? What about the children? David Rubin is the former Mayor of Shiloh, Israel. In 2001 he was driving home from Jerusalem with his 3-year-old son in his car seat, when a hail of terrorist's bullets struck their car. His son was hit, the bullet missing his brain stem by one millimeter. Surgeries and physical therapy healed his body but couldn't heal the emotional trauma. After realizing his son suffered from severe PTSD, Rubin realized children needed a different kind of therapy, and he founded the Shiloh Israel Children's Fund. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, recorded at the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) convention in May, Rubin talks about that harrowing day when he desperately tried to escape the barrage of bullets, and save his son. Then, the long road to creating the Children's Fund, which gives young people with PTSD specialized therapy through education, recreational projects, music and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Old Testament's book of Ezekiel mentions precious stones like beryl, carbuncle, diamonds, emeralds and more. This means that these stones were likely available in the Middle East where the Scriptures were written. Also, the books of Job, Isaiah and others also mentions jewels. So where are these precious stones? Well, at this year's National Religious Broadcasters convention in Orlando, a company called Holy Gems displayed some of the jewelry they've made using the precious stones excavated in the land of Israel. The search for these stones took decades, and the man who began the search didn't live to see them unearthed. But his daughter did. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Tali Shalom Taube, the CEO of Holy Gems, is joined by Shari Rigby, well-known veteran actress from the Kendrick Brothers film Overcomer. They talk about their collaboration on the Holy Gems project, bringing the jewels to the market, and producing a faith-based documentary about the discovery. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
For Scott Beck, Artificial Intelligence is a technological tool that can be used for human flourishing. For example, imagine your depressed teen searches a site asking for advice about living or dying. Then imagine that within less than a minute that teen gets a phone call from a pastor of a nearby church asking to have a talk about life, and to be a listening ear. This is the possible good of the algorithm-based AI technology imagined by "AI & the Church Initiative", a new effort just launched by Beck's company, Gloo, a technology platform dedicated to connecting the faith ecosystem. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith, Beck, founder and CEO of the Boulder, Colorado based Gloo says, "We believe there is a moral imperative to responsibly use technology to advance human flourishing. AI is a powerful technology that should better support, not replace, relationships." With most talk in the public square about the fears associated with AI, Gloo is seeing the good. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Heresies have existed in Christianity for more than two-thousand years, since the faith began. Early followers of Jesus Christ fought hard, first to understand the faith, and then to create doctrines that more faithful through the centuries could follow. The Nicene Creed, promulgated at the Council of Nicaea in the 4th century, comes out of that struggle, and is still the accepted profession of faith for the majority of Christian denominations whether Protestant, Orthodox or Roman Catholic. But a new heresy has seeped into Christianity, one that has been hard to detect, but there non-the-less. Pastor Lucas Miles is working to expose the dark deeds of heretics in his book, "Woke Jesus: The False Messiah Destroying Christianity." On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, recorded at NRB (National Religious Broadcaster's Convention) in Orlando, Florida, Miles talks about the book and about how the new woke culture has infiltrated the Christian pulpit. Miles is also a writer, film producer, president of Nfluence Network, and lead pastor of Nfluence Church in Granger, Indiana. He has taken a lot of hits from critics in the Church, as he exposes Critical Race Theory (CRT), Black Lives Matter (BLM), and other social causes that run counter to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The bottom line is, people need to know the true faith, in order to detect the heresies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The depths of depravity of human sin are never more blatantly on display than in the horrors of human trafficking. It is the focus of actor Jim Caviezel's new movie, "Sound of Freedom", being released on July 4th, the day America celebrates its independence. We fought the Revolutionary War to gain that freedom from British rule. Less than a century later the country was embroiled in the Civil War to end race-based, chattel slavery in America. But sadly, the evil of slavery persists in every part of the world, and yes, here in America. It's called human trafficking. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Caviezel, who also portrayed Jesus in the Mel Gibson blockbuster, "Passion of the Christ", talks about his new film in which he plays real life Federal Agent Tim Ballard, who quit his job to rescue children caught in the web of human trafficking. It's an action film with a heart. It's also about redemption, something Caviezel, a devout Christian, looks for in his film projects, even if he may not always play the good guy. He says, "I don't go to the devil to play the devil. I go to God to tell me who the devil is." In "Sound of Freedom", Caviezel is definitely the good guy... fighting against a lot of evil. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
For theologian and Bible scholar Dr. Alex McFarland, there is no separating America's Constitution from the Bible. Where does the right to life and liberty come from? From Buddha? No. From the pagan god of Ekron? No. How about from ourselves? No! The only worldview that provides a framework for those basic rights is in the Bible. There's a lot of debate over whether America is a Christian nation. For McFarland, there is no question that our U.S. Constitution is founded on biblical principles. Lighthouse Faith podcast caught up with McFarland a few weeks ago at this year's NRB (National Religious Broadcaster's Convention) in Orlando. It's the largest gathering of mostly Christian and Jewish media in the world. In typical McFarland style, his southern boy humility and charm offer a soothing delivery of a rather contentious conflict. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Author Nancy Pearcey says the problem with our view of manhood today is that "There are two competing scripts for masculinity." They are the God Man vs the Real Man. The Bible says men are made in God's image, as are women. And that men's unique masculine strengths are not given to them just to get whatever they want, but to provide, protect and take care of the people they love. So where did the idea infiltrate culture that masculinity is toxic? The irony is that the secular view of masculinity created the image of toxicity, or "The Real Man" image. Pearcey says, “Culture imposes this 'real man' script on men that contains a lot of the traits that, of course, we consider toxic: entitlement, dominance, control, and so on. When these traits are disconnected from the moral vision of the God man, it can slide into being toxic." On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Pearcey, a professor at Houston Baptist University, talks about the dichotomy of masculinity in today’s culture in her new book, “The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes.” Her data, mined from social science research, shows how toxic masculinity comes from the secular culture. Says Pearcey, "The problem is that men are being accused of being toxic, and the solution actually turns out to be a Christian view of masculinity." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
As many prepare to celebrate their dads on Father's Day (June 18), statistics show there's a huge problem of fatherlessness in the country. According to a report, 39 percent of students in the United States, from the first grade to their senior year of high school, do not have a father at home. And fatherlessness is the cause of several other social issues like crime. 85 percent of youth who are currently in prison grew up in a fatherless home. But it can also lead to drug addiction, depression, high abortion rates, teen pregnancy, and even suicide is linked to fatherlessness. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Pastor Sean Teis says the solution can be found in the church. Teis's ministry, God is My Dad, equips single mothers, fatherless children, grandparents raising grandchildren, and also fathers, with ways to combat the effects of Fatherlessness. Teis, who grew up without a father, gives churches practical resources to better minister to fatherless families. Teis says when a child grows up without a father, there's a hole in his or her heart. And the only guaranteed source for repairing that hole is a relationship with God the Father. No parent is perfect, and even kids who live with their fathers can still experience a dysfunctional relationship that scars them for life. Fathers are vital to children's emotional and spiritual health. Teis says today's culture needs to embrace fathers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Abraham Hamilton III, the General Consul and Public Policy Analyst for the American Family Association, homeschools his children. It's not because of any recent objections, but because he says public schools were created for the purpose of evangelizing children into the church of humanism. When parents point to indoctrination by public schools today, Hamilton says the reason is far more foundational than most people understand. He says, "We did not just arrive here accidentally. It has been the product of an intentional plan using the school system, by and large as a primary mechanism to accomplish it." On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast recorded at the National Religious Broadcasters convention (NRB) in Orlando, Hamilton unleashes a diatribe on the origins of public education. He cites former Dean of Education at Harvard University, Chester Pierce, saying, "He literally said children when they come to our schools at four or five years old, they come sick because they have this weird allegiance to a transcendent being known as God". Secular Humanism, or Humanism, is legally considered a religion for Establishment Clause purposes. Yet it is the default faith of the public square, and public schools. According to a Loyola Law School Journal article, "Secular Humanism refers to a philosophy that 'replaces a worship of the transcendent or supernatural deity with the deification of man and humankind.'" Hamilton has a plethora of things to say about many other issues and problems facing families today, all with the same cause: an absence of the knowledge of God. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How much do you know about the Christmas story? There's the baby born in a manger in Bethlehem to a virgin named Mary, betrothed to a man named Joseph. There were shepherds in a field visited by angels heralding the child's birth. There's the star which led the Wisemen to the child. These are all part of the Christmas story, but there's so much more to tell. For instance, who were the wisemen? Theologian Rick Renner in his book, "Christmas: The Rest of the Story", explains that the Magi were "an elite, powerful and staggeringly wealthy group of high-ranking priests devoted to interpreting dreams and studying the constellations." It's likely that Daniel in the Old Testament was thought to be one of the first. And those Magi likely traveled with a large entourage of servants when they saw that star that led them to the baby Jesus. And the shepherds. They were no ordinary shepherds. They were tasked with keeping watch over the lambs used for Temple sacrifice to atone of sins. The angels tell the shepherd of the birth of the Lamb of God, who'll be the final sacrifice. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith, Renner talks about many other parts of the Christmas story that lend credence to the entire biblical redemptive narrative. The birth of Christ is not an isolated story, but the climax of God's plan of salvation.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Maybe you've seen the cozy Christmas TV commercial featuring two young girls and their competing hot cocoa stands. It's a feel-good moment when they learn to work together, and the message from Hobby Lobby is about the joy of Christmas. What you may not know is that David Green, founder and CEO of Hobby Lobby, began the business some 50 years ago with a $600 bank loan and one principle: "God owns the business." That principle and prayer helped build the arts and crafts mom-and-pop operation into a national chain with 50,000 employees, nearly a thousand stores, and an annual gross income of eight billion dollars. Oh, and one other principle that would make a business executive faint... Hobby Lobby gives away 50 percent of its profits. This is a "Made in America" story you rarely hear. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, David Green (not related to the host), and his co-author Bill High, founder and executive chairman of The Signatry, talk about their book, "Leadership NOT by the Book," explaining how a business can be based on faith and still be successful. Green is living proof. Hear how he also stood his ground in a culture war that went all the way to the United States Supreme Court. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The story of Daisy Strongin's journey from normal 15-year-old to transgender male and then back to female, is a cautionary tale for Bible believing parents who hold that God created us to be male and female. The documentary "Dysconnected" tells Daisy's heart-wrenching story of gender dysphoria and how the people around her - friends, medical experts and school officials - told her the solution was to alter her body permanently through surgery. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, filmmaker Don Johnson talks about Daisy's journey, the transgender movement, and why it's taken off like wildfire in the culture. Johnson's film though, is part of a growing push back by people of faith and some medical professionals about the dangers of puberty blockers, hormone therapy and sex change surgeries. Although Diasy was a healthy teenager, she had an elective double-mastectomy that she regretted soon after. The testosterone she took permanently changed her voice. But Daisy's story in the end is hopeful and triumphant. Johnson includes in this documentary the belief that all people of faith should first present compassion and love to young people experiencing gender dysphoria. And that loving them doesn't always mean giving them what they think they want or believe they need. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The horrific fire that almost completely destroyed Notre Dame Cathedral in 2019 became for some, almost a symbol of the state of Catholicism in the world, fighting for its life in a culture uncommitted to religion. But the students of Architecture at Catholic University of America have something much more uplifting and powerful to add to this equation. They are not only becoming part of the famed Paris Cathedral's 'resurrection' from the ashes but have also become a symbol of a new generation of Catholics, intent on strengthening their faith. The students hand built a life-size replica of one of truss number 6 in Notre Dame's choir loft, using medieval techniques as would have been used on the original construction. Using the design of the architects that are in charge of the restoration of Notre Dame, the students raised the truss in Washington D.C a few weeks ago and talked with the French architects who checked out their work. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Tonya Ohnstad, Associate Dean for graduate studies in the Catholic University of America's School of Architecture and Planning, talks about the tremendous opportunity these students had in being a part of Notre Dame's restoration, and how they hope to travel to Paris to be hands on, for the work now being done to bring the French national symbol back to its former grandeur. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Ted Talks are 18-minute videos of influential speakers. So here's a question: What would Jesus say if he gave a Ted Talk? Turns out, He already did some two-thousand years ago, and it's probably one of the most, if not thee most influential and profound speeches of all time. It's called the Sermon on the Mount, found in the book of Matthew. Many people may not know its name, but they know many of the golden nuggets of Jesus's core teachings that come from it, like The Lord's Prayer, "Our Father who art in heaven..." and the Beatitudes like, "Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted." Dr. Robert Jeffress, Senior Pastor at First Baptist Dallas, explores the philosophies and Divine guidance of the Sermon on the Mount in his book, "Eighteen Minutes with Jesus: Straight Talk from the Savior about the Things that Matter Most." On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Dr. Jeffress does a deep dive into what is considered Jesus's longest sermon in the Bible. Ironically, it's short by today's sermon standards. But Jesus addresses everything we need to know about the purpose of life. He talks about money, your sex life, how to deal with enemies, how should we treat people. It's all there. And what's even more profound, Jesus wasn't speaking to a group of believers. His audience was a variety of people possessing a wide variety of religious beliefs or no beliefs. Sound familiar? Which is why the Ted Talk from two thousand years ago, still applies today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
As a medical resident, Dr. John Bruchalski thought that providing the best health care for women meant performing abortions, if that's what his patients wanted. He performed around sixty of them. He, like many in medical schools today, was taught that the woman is the patient, and the fetus could be considered a disease, or a problem like a tumor, that needs to be 'gotten rid of.' He explains that his Catholic upbringing was strong, but that message of the culture was stronger, and so slid into what he calls "moral relativism", a way of living that doesn't see any action as intrinsically evil if it's done in all good conscience. But then came the conversion. His faith conversion brought him closer to Jesus and his Mother Mary. A visit to Guadalupe, Mexico and then to Medjugori, and an encounter with the Living God. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Dr. Bruchalski talks about his book "Two Patients: My Conversion from Abortion to Life-Affirming Medicine," explaining why he walked away from performing abortions, and now practices "Merciful Medicine" through his Tepeyac OB/GYN. Although he is now pro-life and passionately defends treating both mother and child, he has compassion for people who adamantly support abortion rights. He has heard their arguments, and at one time believed those same arguments. But then something greater than those arguments became the authority in his life. And that changed everything! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The last few years have seen some of the most contentious politicking of the modern era, where friends and members of the same family can't talk to each other because of who they voted for, or what cause they support; even in some cases, disinviting family to weddings, or refusing to go to a family funeral, all because they can't love each other enough to say 'we agree to disagree' and to engage in meaningful discussion instead of sparring on social media and canceling each other. Enter Pastors Patrick Miller and Keith Simon. They are answering the clarion call of a Christ centered way to navigate through these next few days leading up to the midterms, the next presidential election and beyond. Their book, "TRUTH OVER TRIBE: Pledging Allegiance to the Lamb, Not the Donkey or the Elephant", is only for those people who want to step away from the precipice of making their politics their very identity. It is only for people who want to bow down to the authority of Christ first, instead of a particular party or position. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Miller and Simon talk about, sometimes humorously, the sadness that comes when we can't reconcile and the isolation and anxiety when the tribe we belong carries more weight than God's Truth. The idea is that are you intent on winning an argument, or winning a friend? Miller and Simon point the way to the truth and the Light. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It's almost surreal that someone has to write a book about Christianity being a religion for all races for all time, and for women just as much as men. But considering the culture of today of Critical Race Theory, Black Lives Matter, the #MeToo era and a whole host of movements of vilifying Christianity as a tool of White male dominance, Christian apologist (meaning defender of the faith) Abdu Murray felt the need to set the record straight. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Murray, a convert from Islam, talks about his book, "More Than A White Man's Religion: Why the Gospel Has Never Been Merely White, Male-Centered, or Just Another Religion." Murray says, "The message itself and the prevailing way in which it's [Christianity] impacted the world has actually been positive for people of color and women. And so when you look at the pages of scripture and I try to tackle some of the toughest." Murray also talks about the elephant in the room for many Christians who admired and revered theologian Ravi Zacharias, who died in 2020. After his death it was revealed that he had abused several women. Zacharias founded Ravi Zacharias International Ministry (RZIM) where Murray worked and was one of Zacharias' closest friends. In fact, much of the sordid details of the abuse came out while Murray wrote the book. He pulls no punches in defending Zacharias but uses it as a learning tool for himself and all of us who become blind to the sins of others in our closest circles, as well as our own. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sixty years ago this week, on October 11, 1962, the Bishops of the Catholic Church gathered in Rome for a solemn ceremony to open what is known as Vatican II. Over four formal sessions during consecutive falls, they would discuss doctrine, and dialogue about how the Global Catholic Church should move forward. It was the most important gathering of the Holy See in half a millennium. What came out of it were sixteen documents that have had a tremendous effect on Catholicism; that Catholics would hear the mass in their own languages instead of only Latin, that there would be a new relationship fostered with non-Catholic religions, and a focus on religious freedom which "recognized that the altar-and-throne alliances of the past were not possible under modern political conditions." Some critics though say Vatican II was prompted by an antiquated Church body responding to a broader culture moving forward through the sexual revolution, feminism, civil rights, and a whole host of other post-modern philosophies skeptical of tradition. Sorting it all out is Vaticanista George Weigel. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Weigel, a Distinguished Senior Fellow of Washington’s Ethics and Public Policy Center and the author of several books on the Catholic Church including his biographies on Pope John Paul II, talks about his new book, "To Sanctify the World: The Legacy of Vatican II." He expands on its historical context and what's more, the intrigue behind the scenes of why this unexpected meeting was called by the most unexpected of Popes to do so, Pope John XXIII, who would not live to see its conclusion in 1965. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Sistine Chapel, where Michelangelo's masterpiece of the biblical narrative detailed in color and motion adorns the walls and ceiling, is part of the tour of the Vatican Museum in Rome. Why does the Roman Catholic Church have a museum filled with works of art that include not just Christian art, but also those that are of pagan, pre-Christian and Jewish origin and more? Because the history of art and how artists interpret the world, is the history of humanity and God's relationship with His creation. And since the early 16th century, popes have strived to conserve these unique expressions of human existence. The museum itself has a separate entrance from the Vatican grounds, and thanks to Pope John Paul II who had it remodeled in the 1980's, it's a great deal more user friendly, accommodating some 35,000 visitors a day. Not just anyone can give tours of the museum; Dr. Elizabeth Lev is a professor of Art History and is one of the select few licensed to give tours in the museum. On a recent trip to Rome, I was privileged enough to take a tour with Dr Lev. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith, we talked afterwards about how and why art is very much a central part of Christianity and how connected the works are to the central theme of the Holy See's mission, which is saving souls. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Vatican Observatory is located on a hill in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, the former summer residence of the popes. It's a physical reminder of the Catholic Church's commitment to science, and in particular the heavens - the universe, star formation, galaxies. Headquartered on the Apostolic Palaces fifth floor, it's roots go back to the 16th century when Pope Gregory VII reformed the calendar, aligning it more closely with the motion of the planets, giving us the much more precise Gregorian calendar. Fr. Richard D'Souza is one of several astronomer priests doing research at the Observatory, whose main offices are now in a new facility and updated telescopes are at the edge of the papal gardens and also in Tuscon, Arizona (Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope -VATT). With degrees in physics and a doctorate in astronomy from the University of Munich, this man of the cloth is also a man of science. His area of research is studying the formation and evolution of galaxies. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, recorded at the former Apostolic Residence in Castel Gandolfo, Fr. D'Souza talks about why the Catholic Church embraces science, and why it sees no conflict between the Holy Scriptures and Scientific discoveries. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Let's face it, most of us are a little bit sketchy when it comes to understanding who the Holy Spirit is and what He actually does. Yes, "He." That's one of the identifiers that trips people up these days, especially in this gender-bending, Star Wars influenced worldview culture. It's much easier to think of this third member of the Holy Trinity as some ethereal spiritual force, "Let the Force be with you," than a person with power. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Pastor Max Lucado explains who this person the Holy Spirit is, and how we can tap into His power. The Bible talks about how our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. So that means this powerful being is close to us, as close as we want Him to be. Lucado preaches through his new book "Help Is Here" that this power has always been here. Like Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz," you don't have to travel to some far-off land to find the refuge, strength and love you crave. It's here and now, right where you are. That's the power of the Holy Spirit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It was one decision that made a world of difference in a plethora of lives. This is the underlying theme of the movie "Lifemark," now out in theaters, and starring Kirk Cameron. Cameron, who came to fame in the 1980's playing "Mike Seaver" on the sitcom "Growing Pains," is now producing and developing Christian based content for television and film. He's teamed up again with the Kendrick Brothers, who he first worked with on the movie "Fireproof," which is about saving a marriage. Lifemark is about saving a life. In this case it's about a young man who's adopted, who journeys to meet his biological mother. The story of course is very pro-life, but it goes deeper, fleshing out the complex relationships created when a mother elects NOT to have an abortion, and the lives that are changed for the better because of that decision. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Cameron talks about why he was moved to make this film. His own experience as the father of four adopted children and his wife Chelsea, who is adopted herself. The Grand Narrative of the film is that God has a tremendous purpose through adoption, and that life is the most incredible gift, even if it comes in the most unexpected ways. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The unlikely pairing of faithful Christian and former television co-host Kathie Lee Gifford and Messianic Rabbi Jason Sobel seems almost like an act straight from the entertainment world. It's either that or one by Divine design. And I prefer the latter scenario. Gifford and Sobel's second book collaboration, "The God of the Way" is a companion to a new movie musical "The Way," which Gifford calls an oratorio in film form. [An oratorio is basically Scripture telling a story, mixed with musical presentations of that story.] But it's the content and purpose of their collaboration that flies in the face of what most people think about when it comes to Jews and Christians getting along. It's not about making peace even though we disagree. These two agree. Sobel is a Messianic Rabbi believing that Jesus Christ is THE Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament. And there's plenty he's trying to teach Christians about the origins of their faith. One of the main themes is that there isn't an Old and New Testament, it is one Holy Scripture, one continuous narrative. And that so much of what Christians understand as the New Testament, are far clearer and more impactful when absorbed through the lens of the Hebrew Scriptures. Gifford is Sobel's mentee and student who's absorbed a lot of his knowledge, and their relationship has made it safe for Christians to understand Judaism, and Jews to understand Christianity. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Gifford and Sobel show how exciting faith can be in a community of shared insights. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
A patriot he certainly is. No one can question that. Lee Greenwood's song celebrating the love of country is also now proclaiming his faith, exploring how the Scriptures are integral to America's founding. Greenwod has created the "God Bless the USA" Bible, which is a King James translation of the Holy Scriptures with America's founding documents in the addendum, showing how the two are related. Greenwood opened the Fox Summer Concert series this year on Memorial Day weekend, and I was privileged to sit down with him then to talk about The Good Book, how America's foundations are tied to it, and why it's important we never forget it. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Greenwood also talks about the Uvalde shooting, which had just occurred, and why he and many of his fellow musicians opted to cancel their appearances at the NRA conference. While he supports the Second Amendment, Greenwood says the tragedy made it a no brainer to bow out of the conference. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
There are many people of faith that believe the Boy Scouts of America has lost its way. Where once the organization was almost a rite of passage for boys on the way to becoming men, today it is not just about boys or affirming their strengths. Girls are also invited to join, even though there's such an organization called, "Girl Scouts". And the BSA is not about character based on serving God and country, but about individual achievements. Then there's the tragedy of thousands of boys who now claim they were sexually abused by troop leaders or older boys in authority positions, leading to hundreds of millions of dollars paid out to settle those claims. Whatever you think of the BSA, there has arisen an alternative to the 110-year-old organization. It's called Trail Life USA. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Trail Life's CEO Mark Hancock talks about how his organization is growing by leaps and bounds, while BSA's membership is shrinking. Hancock has said that the Boy Scouts of America abandoned its 'laser focus on boys', it's faith-based mission, and it's moral compass. Trail Life has made all three parts of its core principles. It is unapologetically Christ centered in its mission to help boys cultivate their God-given strengths. And they're making it clear that the phrase, 'boys will be boys' means something positive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It's a scientific argument in a video interview with a biologist who studied the research on the link between abortion and breast cancer. But fewer people than normal will see or hear about it because according to the conservative Christian organization The Ruth Institute which produced it, YouTube censored it, removing it from its page. YouTube stated that it “does not allow content about abortion that contradicts expert consensus from local health authorities or the World Health Organization (WHO) and poses a serious risk of bodily harm or death.” But The Ruth Institute claims there's a "corrupt process... to create the 'illusion of scientific consensus." And since the Roe decision, YouTube has removed three episodes of RI's weekly podcast featuring the Insitute's president, Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse. According to the Heritage Foundation, which chronicled a long list of examples, Big Tech companies have become the gatekeepers of information, as "a handful of Big Tech corporations - like Google, YouTube, Apple, Facebook (Meta), Twitter -now manipulate the flow of information in such an expansive way as to fundamentally reshape the public discourse." On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Dr. Morse talks about the content of the interviews that YouTube removed, and why conservative voices of Faith have become big targets for Big Tech. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The parents and children were active church members. They loved Jesus. They believed they were sinners saved by God's grace. They also believed what the Bible says about gender, that God made us Male and Female, that we are born into as one of those two sexes. So, it was a gut-wrenching surprise when their twelve-year-old daughter decided one day that she was a boy and wanted to be called the pronouns 'they/them'. What's a Christian family supposed to do? The secular world celebrates the transgender ideology. At school "Grace" (not her real name) became popular, something she wasn't before. But when she transitioned back to being a girl, there was only silence. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, journalist Sarah Zylstra talks about her article in "The Gospel Coalition" and her interview with the family about their long journey of walking with Grace through becoming a transgender boy, and then what they did, and didn't do, that made Grace transition back to being their daughter. As more and more families face this situation, Zylstra's words shed much needed light on the murky waters of "Rapid-onset Gender Dysphoria." For this family, it was faith that gave them the strength to obey God, rather than the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In the wake of the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe vs. Wade, polls on abortion and how Americans support or don't support the decision are rampant. Generally speaking, most polls say the majority of Americans did not support the justices ruling. But does that mean most citizens are pro-choice, or favor no restrictions on abortion? Daniel Darling, Director of the Land Center For Cultural Engagement at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, says poll results that make it to mainstream media can be misleading. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Dan talks about the fact that most Americans, whether Democrat or Republican, favor some kind of restrictions on abortion, and that also the younger generations are becoming more pro-life than their parents' and grandparent's generations. With photos of ultrasound pictures included in baby books and on refrigerator doors, it's hard for anyone who favors abortion rights to say that this "clump of cells" growing in a woman's womb is anything other than a human life. That has been the game changer. Advances in science concerning the unborn, have resulted in a growing pro-life sentiment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Michelle Hord thought she had the perfect life and career. A producer for America's Most Wanted and ABC's Good Morning America, she was on a trajectory of certain success. Even a wedding in her late 30's seemed like a fairytale, which later welcomed a beautiful little girl named Gabrielle. But her dream marriage turned into a nightmare when the man she thought was her soul mate, became the source of strife and discontent. An acrimonious separation finally ended in divorce when her husband grudgingly signed the papers. But that same day, he went back to his home and killed seven-year-old Gabrielle and attempted to kill himself. Michelle's grief and trauma so great, her only recourse was to cry out to God. The verse that gave her strength was from the book of Job, "Though he slay me, YET will I trust him." It is what happens after the "Yet" that Michelle is living in now. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Michelle Hord talks about her book, "The Other Side of Yet: Finding Light in the Midst of Darkness," that tells her story of heartache and sorrow, but also of strength and healing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
America is 245 years old! Happy Birthday! We've come a long way and become a great nation and a great power. But with great power comes great responsibility. And America could be at a defining moment in history. According to historian Os Guinness, all our struggles and founding documents have as their fuel the covenant the Israelites made with God at Mt. Sinai. Freedom comes from God. Not from man. The only true freedom in this world has as its author, The Almighty. The signers of the Declaration of Independence at the Second Continental Congress of July 4th, 1776 knew that. But today, many of our citizens of this Republic do not know that, or if they do, are trying to re-write history in their own image. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, historian and best-selling author Os Guinness talks about his new book, The Magna Carta of Humanity: Sinai's Revolutionary Faith and The Future of Freedom. He makes the claim that today's Woke ideology, various forms of Critical Theory, and the tearing down of historic statues is not part of our 1776 roots and the American war of Independence from Great Britian, but on the French Revolution, whose foundation is the Enlightenment and secularism. But Guinness goes a step further and says God's Law is the only source of true freedom. Because the paradox of freedom is that it must be ordered, otherwise freedom begets anarchy. If there are no rules to follow, laws to obey, then freedom itself becomes an oppressive cudgel, morphing into a 'will to power.' Are we there yet? Listen and find out. (This episode previously aired on July 4, 2021) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Johnny Depp vs. Amber Heard trial may be over, but the strife and struggle of their relationship remains... not only for them but for countless other couples whose relationships will never make the front page of newspapers, nor their conflicts become court fodder. So on this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast we go back and ask two experts, a husband and wife team, Fr. Nicholas Louh and Dr. Roxanne Louh, about marriage. What is marriage? Why is faith important in a marriage? Is there a perfect person out there for everyone? What are some of the red flags in a relationship? How do you know if this is the right person to marry? Are some things unforgiveable in a marriage? And... what's wrong with having sex before marriage? The Louh's have a unique relationship to jointly explore all these questions and more. He is a Greek Orthodox priest. She is a psychologist. They've been married for 19 years. Together they look at relationships through the combined lens of faith and psychology; bringing them in tandem. Marrying them, you could say, and letting no man or woman separate them. This is the key to forming a marriage that truly will be forever. The Depp vs. Heard trial is used as a cautionary tale on this podcast. While neither Louh has met or knows either party, they do have some expert insight into how this relationship got on the rails in the first place. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wherever you stand on the Roe v. Wade debate, it is clear that no matter how the Supreme Court rules, the conflict over abortion rights will not end. It will go into a new phase. Shawn Carney, who co-founded the pro-life group "40 Days for Life" and whose life was featured in the movie "Unplanned", believes the High Court is set to topple the 1973 decision that made abortion legal. Carney's organization was founded on prayer, and he believes prayer is what will get the country through the next phase, as the abortion fight becomes localized in each state. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Carney explains why he believes it's the end of an era for Roe, but also how to spread the truth in love when it comes to the most contentious subject that has torn apart neighbors, family members and the country itself. In comparison, laws can be changed quickly. But it takes a great deal of time, effort, and patience to change hearts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wherever you stand on the controversy over denying Catholic politicians Holy Communion because of their stance on abortion, one conservative priest has a totally non-political take on this ever-growing dispute. Fr. Gerald Murray, who by all accounts is no close compadre of the Speaker of the House, says Nancy Pelosi is blessed. Why blessed? Because, he says, she has an Archbishop who cares enough about her eternal soul to decree that she should no longer receive the Holy Eucharist in her home Archdiocese of San Francisco. Not too long-ago Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone made public his ongoing, but private, spat with Pelosi over her staunch support of abortion rights. The Catholic Church considers abortion to be a grave sin for those who have one or for those who aid in its continuance. It's a sin that jeopardizes a person's promise of heaven. While many in the church have accused clergy like Cordileone of 'weaponizing the Eucharist', Murray says people should understand it from the point of view of a Shepherd caring for his flock. You can read the article here... Listen to Fr. Murray explain it, and also talk about how Pope Francis is molding the Catholic Church with 21 new Cardinals. Fr. Murray heads the United Nations parish, Church of the Holy Family in Manhattan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Michael W. Smith's greatest cheerleader in life was his father, Paul Smith. He supported him in his passion for music, even though his own talents were in sports. What a unique relationship that is. A father who not only lets his son find his passion in life, even if its different from his own.. but encourages him to pursue it wholeheartedly. But that was Paul Smith, who passed away in 2015, leaving the Grammy Award winning Christian artist with a huge hole in his heart. However, Paul Smith gave his son a legacy that death could not take away; a faith in his Heavenly Father, that will last into eternity. Fathers have an incredibly powerful influence on their children. Even their absence is felt as a profound loss in a child's soul. And then there are fathers who are physically present but emotionally distant, unapproachable, or even abusive. They too have a profound influence on their children. Theological experts say, a child's view and relationship with their earthly father has a correlation to how the child sees God. Authoritative or permissive, judgmental, or loving... all these have influence. Michael W. Smith, says his father, although not perfect, was the quintessential father, who sacrificed so much of himself to serve not only him but his mother and grandmother. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Smith talks about his father and the book he just wrote that honors him called, 'The Way Of The Father: Lessons From My Dad, Truths About God". The truth is, we all need our fathers. They play a vital role in our lives, yet today's society would have us believe they are unnecessary. But every study shows that when fathers are present, supportive, and loving, to their children, children thrive. The tragedy of course is, not all children have earthly fathers they can rely on. And that, says Michael W. Smith is why a Heavenly Father is all the more important. To know the Father is to be known down to the depths of your being, and at the same time, loved unconditionally. That is the Way of Thee Father. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
There is no question that the mass shooting of 19 children and two teachers in a Uvalde, TX elementary school was anything other than pure evil. And so, the question becomes, "Why wouldn't God prevent such evil?" And "Is He not all powerful? Or is He not all good?" Theologian and pastor Dr. Jeremiah Johnston is expert in mental health and spiritual evil, and he says what most Christians, and people of faith, haven't understood is that God, in the Bible does make a distinction between having the blues, depression, mental illness... and spiritual evil. They can all be intertwined, even on a trajectory. But it's possible to have one without the other. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Dr. Johnston addresses all, as well as the issue of God's presence during tragedy and that the Church should be doing a lot more to deal with mental health within the ranks of its own pews. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"Mediating institutions, such as the family, churches, and Fraternal organizations, feed the life of the civic community. They stand between the individual and the state. And when they recede, the state fills the vacuum." - Archbishop Charles Chaput That's a quote from an article in "First Things" magazine written by the retired Archbishop of Philadelphia, Charles Chaput. If you're not familiar with him, just know that he is student of political and American history, as well as a keen observer of political discourse, especially when it concerns the Catholic Church and Christianity as a whole. He knows his stuff. And for all his political involvement in calling out the hypocrisy of Catholic politicians and getting involved in the political fight over abortion and gender, he was pretty much shunned by Pope Francis, who Chaput was told didn't want any more bishops like him. But even though retired, Chaput hasn't stopped adding his voice to the public square. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Chaput talks about his article in "First Things," called "Fire Upon the Earth", and how America is at a critical precipice concerning her weakened religious foundations of which the state is taking advantage by inserting itself as the authority over theological beliefs. Issues like 'conscience rights' of medical professionals, 'parental rights' and the public schools, they're all being attacked. And the irony is they're being attacked by the very institution charged with protecting them... the government. So, what's the solution? Chaput says, it's what it has always been, faith in Jesus Christ; to know Him, His character, His love, His mercy, and to teach your children the same. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
As the abortion battle grows to a fever pitch pending the expected Supreme Court ruling, a new pro-life documentary takes a broad look at abortion; its history, morality, philosophy, and its politics... And targets the church as part of the problem and the solution. "The Matter of Life" ads have been banned from Facebook for content. Filmmaker Tracy Robinson faults the far-left ideology of tech companies. But that hasn't swayed Robinson, who less than a decade ago was a pro-choice Evangelical. And she knows there are many more like her. The film highlights that 4 in 10 women who had abortions were attending churches the month of their procedures. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Robinson explains how she came to be staunchly pro-life and that there are many Christians who were like her, getting their information from a secular point of view, not the Church. And that's why the film says that Christians' real abortion battle is in the pews, not in the public square. The film is set for a Fathom release this week (May 16th & 17th), as the country is reeling from the unprecedented leak of the High Court's opinion signaling a possible downfall of Roe v. Wade. Robinson is compassionate and understanding of the pro-choice position having been in that camp for most of her life, but she says without a doubt that abortion "degrades the body of Christ." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Summer blockbuster movie season is upon us, and for the next few months audiences will be mesmerized and dazzled by superheroes with superhuman powers, technological gadgetry, or otherworldly strength and moral fortitude. There's also one other thing these characters have in common: they are willing to sacrifice themselves to save their friends, family, or the world. These multi-gazillion dollar movies have been telling this story repeatedly, mimicking the narrative of the greatest story ever told, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Sometimes without knowing, sometimes by default. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Dr. Frank Turek talks about his new books, "Hollywood Heroes: How Your Favorite Movies Reveal God." In the book he highlights movies like Star Wars, Harry Potter, Iron Man, Captain America, and more, showing how the theme of sacrifice for the good of others is the Christian narrative of Jesus sacrificing Himself on the cross to save us all from the forces of evil that exist in the world... and within ourselves. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mitch Albom's best-selling book Tuesdays With Morrie was an up close and personal look at the death of a dear friend and the learning wisdom from an older person's wisdom of life. Albom's other books also take a deep dive into the spiritual reality of life's journey, like The Five People You Meet in Heaven and Stranger in the Lifeboat. But his recent book is much more personal, because it deals with the death of a child; his child... And the journey of trying to save her life. Finding Chika: A Little Girl, An Earthquake, and the Making of a Family, is Albom's book about the little girl he and his wife adopted from their orphanage they founded in Haiti after an earthquake devastated the island country. Chika was vibrant, full of life, fun and laughter. Even at her young age she possessed incredible wisdom. For Albom, it was Chika's death that brought a more poignant awareness of how precious life is. And in a way, Tuesdays With Morrie and Chika's story are bookends; both dealing with what we all must face, death. But then there's joy of focusing instead on being thankful for the time we had with a loved one, rather than mourning over their absence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Millions of Orthodox Christians are celebrating Easter this weekend. They'll hear the traditional chants and hymns, centuries old, always solemn, and reverent. But some would they are also distant and unconnected to the daily reality of the culture we live in. No one knows that better than Rev. Dr. Nicholas Louh, a Greek Orthodox priest who's lighting a fire, you could say, to the Orthodox world with his motivational speaking around the country. In style, substance and easy to understand theological message, he sounds more like Billy Graham than Basil the Great, a fourth century Orthodox theologian. For the first millennia of Christianity there was only Orthodoxy. One Church. Then came the great Schism of 1054 separating East and West. Five hundred years later, the Protestant Reformation and more splintering. But Louh is true to the Orthodox roots of the faith. However, of the Orthodox world he admits, "We've had this beautiful what I call the deep end of the pool of faith... where what we're challenged with is how do we share it in a way that's practical, applicable and relevant to people's lives?" On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, I am on the road again, this time to Southampton, New York, at the Lenten Retreat at the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church, where Fr. Louh was the keynote speaker for three seminars. His bio shows that he's breaking the boundaries of the church building to build bridges with other religions, but also breaking down the separations between the more than thirty-thousand Christian denominations, the divisions of which have been the source of many a Holy war throughout the centuries, and even today in the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Both countries are majority Orthodox Christians. Louh is the senior priest at St. John the Divine Greek Orthodox Church in Jacksonville, Florida. He's also the Adjunct Professor of World Religions at the Florida State College at Jacksonville and is the chaplain for the Jacksonville Sharks Arena Football Team. He's all about interfaith dialogue and social justice... and helping people understand what God's purpose is for their lives. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The new movie Father Stu tells the real-life story of Catholic priest Father Stuart Long. Mark Wahlberg stars as the main character, and Mel Gibson plays the role of Fr. Stu's dad. It's hard to encapsulate an entire life into a two-hour movie, but according to Fr. Bart Tolleson, a personal friend of Fr. Stu, the movie does an admirable job, although not perfect. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Fr. Bart, who consulted on the film, talks about the real Fr. Stu. His early life struggles, his searching for meaning, his rejection of faith, and then his passionate embrace of it despite the debilitating illness that would claim his life. In fact, it was through his pain and suffering that Fr. Stu's faith became even more real. And his life is a modern-day example of why Easter is the cornerstone of Christianity, that there is purpose and power in suffering. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Cole Lyle, a Marine veteran who served in Afghanistan, once put a revolver to his head intending to kill himself. The depression and anxiety of post-traumatic stress had taken its emotional toll. He saw no other way out. But for some reason instead he put down the gun and took up a Bible, locked himself in a room telling himself he wouldn't come out until God's Word helped him figure out what his life was for. Mission Roll Call is the result of that crisis of faith. On this "On the Road" edition of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Lyle talks about how he created Mission Roll Call to help other veterans like himself. One of the top priorities is suicide prevention. Veterans are at much higher risk than the rest of the population. Another priority is helping vets get access to healthcare. Helping Lyle in that quest is a beautiful German Shepherd named Kaia, a specially trained service animal that senses his moods, bringing him back from the brink of an emotional episode like a post-traumatic nightmare. Lyle says, there's a long waiting list for animals like Kaia, so the two lobby the halls of congress to get lawmakers attention to the needs of the men and women who put their lives on the line for the sake of Freedom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Keith Stubbs tried the normal route in comedy to make his jokes a little bit saucy and sexy. In other words, not meant for the entire family. But now he's a defender of the faith... faith in clean comedy. Dry Bar Comedy is an organization started by Neal and Jeffrey Harmon in 2017, devoted to keeping comedy clean. Stubbs and hundreds of other comedians are on a mission to show that you can still be funny without cussing, cursing, or relying on gratuitous sexualized jokes. Some of the comedians even performed at the National Religious Broadcasters Convention. Stubbs admits that in the entertainment world it's an uphill battle as many comedians don't want to be labeled "clean" for fear it's synonymous with 'not funny'. But he's counseled many a comedian on how to slightly alter their shows to make them fit or the entire family, and the results surprise them. They get as many laughs, if not more, when the jokes are clean. Join the fun and enjoy the show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
To say appearances are deceiving just doesn't describe the total persona of John Cooper, lead singer of the Rock group Skillet, a band that has performed with the likes of Aerosmith and Metallica. Cooper, a Grammy nominated, multi-platinum musician, looks more like a hardcore biker-- tattoos, black leather et al-- than a Bible thumping theologian. But there you have it. His book, "Awake and Alive to Truth" is a conviction of modern society that preaches truth is something you make up for yourself, instead of an objective standard that exists outside of any individual. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Cooper, a strong Christian with his own podcast called "Cooper Stuff," talks about his pleas to the generations of today, growing up in a culture that is "Post-truth." He laments, "We don't believe there's absolute truth. We believe that everything is fungible. Everything is built on your interpretation, her truth, my truth. It's all based on the way I feel, the way that I interpret my reality. And then I demand that everyone else fall in line with my version of reality. And that is a recipe for chaos." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Being a good citizen is everyone's civic responsibility. But if you are a Christian, you are first a child of the Living God, made in His image. How can those two things work together? Because the Holy Bible and our Constitution are closely related, says Rick Green, founder of the Patriot Academy, who's also known as the American Constitution Coach. He says, the founding fathers did more than just "breathe the atmosphere" of spirituality, "They were studying the Bible every year. There was a deep, deep heritage of understanding that if you want to have a society that works well, you've got to follow God's rules and God's laws to to do that. And so they created this whole system based on that." On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast recorded at the National Religious Broadcasters convention in Nashville, Green is joined by Lt. Colonel Allen West, a retired U.S. Army officer and former member of the U.S. Congress. Together they talk about the how the Patriot Academy is teaching regular citizens how to really understand the Constitution's power and how that is crucial to fighting back against tyrannical forces emerging in our own legal system. For example, the often misunderstood and misapplied notion of separation of the Church and State. They also teach how important it is that to understand the Constitution you must understand the Bible. Many of the clauses in the Constitution are taken directly from the Old Testament. To be a good biblical citizen means to hold God's truth as the standard on which much of the Constitution is based. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Is a Holy War over religion and politics the real impetus for Russia invading Ukraine? Former Ambassador for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback believes it was probably a huge factor, largely downplayed or ignored by Western officials. Three years ago the Patriarch of Orthodox Churches in Istanbul granted the Ukraine Orthodox Church independence from the Russian Orthodox Church. Putin, who sees himself as the defender of the faith, was livid, and so was the Russian Church hierarchy which is closely aligned with him. Putin has a long memory, but a short fuse. And there’s more spiritual warfare going on in Ukraine than meets the eye or ears. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, we go to the National Religious Broadcasters convention in Nashville and talk with three faith experts about what’s happening in Ukraine: Ambassador Brownback, along with Dirk Smith of EEM (Eastern European Missions) which has a supplied millions of Bibles to Ukraine, and Dr. Jeff Meyers, President of Summit Ministries. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
As members of the National Religious Broadcasters meet this week in Nashville for their annual convention, they are doing so under a cloud of challenges the Church has not seen in centuries. The modern era has brought a full throttle assault on the Church from persecution of Christians in countries where it is most dangerous to be a believer in Jesus Christ, like North Korea, Afghanistan and China, to name a few. But then there are the attacks in the West with legal cases brought against believers for standing their ground when it comes to things like traditional views on marriage and gender. And also, there's the effort to try to push back against indoctrination to a secular humanist world view in the public schools. Adding to all that a global pandemic and a war in Eastern Europe. The Church has its hands full. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, NRB top official, Troy Miller, takes a look at the big picture of all that's on the line. But then knowing that the bottom line will always be a faith in a Sovereign God. The NRB convention is the largest gathering of Christian communicators, a "premier conference for Christians who work in radio, tv, film, church media or digital marketing." What Miller says is that Christians have the modern weapons to take on the powers of evil in the world. The convention helps them tap into it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Just like the famous Route 66 connects Chicago to Los Angeles in the United States, Route 60 in Israel connects the Bible's most famous events and people. From Abraham to Moses, Jacob to King David, and David to Jesus Christ... this Biblical Heritage Highway is the original Bible Belt and is in the works to become a new pilgrimage for the biblically minded tourist. Yishai Fleisher is the impetus behind the move to make Route 60 more than a two-lane highway, but an historic site commemorating shared lineages. The four-thousand-year-old path stretches the length from the Samarian city of Shechem thru Shiloh and Beth El where Jacob saw a vision of a ladder connecting Heaven and Earth, and thru Jerusalem and Bethlehem the birthplace of Jesus... all the way to Be'er Sheva, the capitol of the Negev desert "where Abraham and Isaac found water and taught wayfarers about the One God." On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Yishai Fleisher, the International Spokesperson for the Jewish Community of Hebron, talks about the importance to this highway as a shared culture between the three monotheistic religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islaam... and how Route 60 can be a true pathway to peace in the Middle East. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
For Christians, the entirety of the Bible hinges on a short verse in the Gospel of John in the New Testament; John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." It pretty much sums up the narrative of God's plan for redeeming the entire human race and the whole of creation, rescuing them from the Fall from Grace, and the evil now rampant in our world because of it. Pastor Max Lucado's 2007 best-selling book on those 26 words has been re-released and updated with "new content for a new generation." Called "3:16 The Numbers of Hope," it is a deep, heart-probing explanation of why these words were so mind-boggling when Jesus imparted them to Nicodemus more than two thousand years ago, and how they are just as life-altering for us today. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Pastor Max Lucado, a master storyteller, and spirit-filled teacher of biblical truth, talks about the power of John 3:16 and the hope it offers. He says, "The heart of the human problem is the heart of the human. And God’s treatment is prescribed in John 3:16... Let John 3:16 become the banner of your life, so much so that the message of God’s unending and unbending love overflows from you to others.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, closing arguments are scheduled in Finland at the trial of a Paivi Rasanen, a member of parliament, that may be a test case for whether quoting the Bible could be considered hate speech deserving of a crime. It all started in 2019 when Rasanen tweeted to her Lutheran minister questioning the church's support of the Gay Pride parade, quoting verses from the Bible as her reasoning. The exchange ignited a national debate where all of Rasanen's writings, including a 2004 pamphlet, became the focus behind five criminal complaints. She was eventually taken into custody where police questioned her for thirteen hours. Later she was charged with hate crimes against a minority. The real issue though has become, "How far can religious freedoms be protected?" And, "Whether or not people can be charged with a crime for what they believe?" On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Rasanen talks about her ordeal, her faith. This podcast is not a debate about what the Bible says or does not say about homosexuality. There's another podcast that debates that, between two evangelical ministers. Rasanen's interview is about how she feels about possibly facing jail time and/or a fine, for believing something in the Bible. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
She has the voice of an angel - an Irish angel that is. Actress Roma Downey grew to fame on the TV series "Touched by an Angel," telling millions of viewers each week that "There is a God, that He loves you, and wants to be a part of your life." It's a message that's now embedded in her work with husband/producer Mark Burnett. Their mini-series on The Bible a few years ago became a surprise hit; a surprise to the secular world of Hollywood elites that is, not to Roma and Mark. Their latest offering is on the cornerstone of Christianity, The Resurrection. It's a film that would have been released in theaters, but because of the pandemic it could not be. So they had a choice to either hold it for a year or find another outlet. And they chose the latter. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Downey talks about how the COVID-19 shutdown became the impetus to bring the film to viewers as another message of hope in a world hungry for it. She also talks about what it was like shooting in Morocco, and the actors and actresses who bring to life the story of how the Apostles went from despair and fear at the crucifixion of Jesus to joy and triumph as they live out His Resurrection. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It's a lawsuit that was bound to happen as Critical Race Theory and other social agenda curriculum make their way through schools across the country. The state of Virginia, in particular has seen its share of controversy as parents there have been riled up for months about what schools are teaching their children; an unforeseen byproduct of the pandemic as thousands of students stayed home taking their classes via zoom. Just a few weeks ago, a group of parents of different religious backgrounds filed a lawsuit against Albemarle School District in Virginia, accusing it of indoctrinating their children with Critical Race Theory, claiming that the doctrines conflict with their beliefs that all people are made in God's image and should be treated equally. It's a far cry from CRT's teachings that people are either oppressed or are oppressors based on their ethnicity or race. And it's also not what Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. hoped for in his "I Have a Dream" speech, where he envisioned a world where people would be judged by "the content of their character and not the color of their skin." Alliance Defending Freedom is the legal team representing the parents. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Emilie Kao, Senior Counsel with ADF, discusses the case, and what drove the parents to file the lawsuit. The school district has until Monday, January 31st to respond. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
After U.S withdrawal, Afghanistan became the number one place on earth where it is most dangerous to be a Christian, for the first time ever. That's according to Open Doors USA's World Watch List 2022. The Taliban in Afghanistan is now engaged in a door-to-door campaign to rid the country of Christians, who are mostly converts from Islam. The penalty for conversion is death. The World Watch List is a definitive, comprehensive research-based report that ranks the top 50 countries where it is most dangerous to be a Christian. Afghanistan has supplanted North Korea, which now ranks #2 on the list, after spending 20 years at #1. And it's not that North Korea has gotten better; Afghanistan has gotten worse. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Open Doors president David Curry explains how bad things are; how every Christian in Afghanistan is now either in hiding or on the run. The Taliban’s interpretation of Islam considers Christians to be traitors, enemies of the state, enemies of the tribe and even the community; they are deemed to be “infidels." Curry will also highlight another bad actor on the World Watch List: China. Its religious freedom abuses are more sinister and more cunning; using technology and Artificial Intelligence to control people of faith, keep watch on them, and judge whether they are good citizens or not based on what and who they worship. On the eve of the Winter Olympics in China, Curry wants the world to be aware what's happening there, and that money and power should not determine how people are treated. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
If you think of yourself more spiritual than religious, you may not want to even listen to this podcast with "Bible Answer Man" Hank Hanegraaff. Clearly the "spiritual but not religious" segment is growing; by last count, 29 percent of Americans. But on the other hand, if you consider yourself a champion of organized religion, you may find much to disagree with in this podcast. However, if your heart is searching for the answers to life's most pressing questions, both spiritual and intellectual, then by all means click on the link and begin to understand what faith is and why it's necessary. Hanegraaff answers some common objections to religion in general and Christianity specifically like, "Don't we all have to find truth for ourselves?" or "Isn't it incredibly narrow to say that Christianity is the only religion that offers salvation?" A few years ago, Hanegraaff converted from Protestantism's evangelical Christianity to Orthodox Christianity. He took a lot of heat for it from leaders in the Evangelical community. As he explains it, his conversion was brought about by a heartfelt, as well as intellectual pursuit of God's Truth - yes Truth capital with a capital T - as it is told by God's Word through Jesus Christ, the Risen Savior. Hanegraaff says most of us in this pluralistic society like to live in the gray areas, believing that no one religion has cornered the market on Truth. And the only acceptable, and polite position in mixed company is to say that all religions lead to the same God. But Hanegraaff is one of great many sounding the alarm on that position explaining that believing in spiritual plurality may make you a lot of friends in liberal circles but will ultimately draw you away from God. Listen and see if you agree or disagree. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Archaeology over the past few decades has continued to find evidence that the Bible speaks truth; that the people and places mentioned in the Old and New Testaments were not parts of some mythological creation, but evidence of historical facts unearthed through science. Author and journalist Michael Hesemann "connects the dots between the Gospels and the time Christ" through his book, Jesus of Nazareth: Archaeologists Retracing the Footsteps of Christ. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Hesemann presents the latest information from archeological findings over the past decade, since the first edition of his book was published... including more details of the Wedding at Cana, the account in the Gospel of John which describes Jesus's first miracle of turning water into wine. Hesemann is the author of some forty-four books, including Mary of Nazareth, and co-author with Mgr. Georg Ratzginger, of the international best-seller on Pope Benedict XVI, My Brother the Pope. It was in fact that book that helped create my first meeting Michael in Rome, where we became friends. He invited me to Regensburg, Germany to meet Mgr. Ratzinger and to celebrate his 89th birthday. I brought my mom along who was also 89 at the time. It paved the way for me to perform for Pope Benedict XVI the very next year at the Vatican, and the famous picture of my mom hugging Pope Benedict. Listen to us reminisce of those times and more... as well as fascinating information on what archeologist have found in the Holy Land. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Lauren Green looks back at her January 2021 conversation with Open Doors USA President David Curry.
Every year for the past few decades, Open Doors USA releases its World Watch List, a top 50 lineup of countries where it is most dangerous to be a Christian. According to Open Doors president David Curry, there's a growing trend of more and more people dying because they are Christian. It is one of the most under reported phenomenon, that despite what mainstream media say, Christianity is the most persecuted religion globally. The top 10 worst countries for Christians contains the usual cast of characters, mainly Muslim majority nations like Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran. But the communist secular regime of North Korea leads the pack, as it has for 20 years. It's secretive dictatorship makes it illegal to even own a Bible. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Curry talks about the new trends affecting Christians, that 1 in 8 are persecuted worldwide, that more people than ever before are suffering for their religious beliefs, and that countries like China, Iran, India, and Nigeria are using the COVID-19 pandemic to justify the use of common technology to create a dangerous world for religious minorities. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Whether or not you believe in Jolly Old St. Nick or not, you should learn about the real saint that inspired the larger-than-life version seen in movies and TV. Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus! And William Federer, ace historian, and encyclopedia on everything Christmas explains why Christianity is behind pretty much every tradition celebrated around December the 25th. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Federer explains how the real St. Nicholas, the 3rd century bishop, influenced centuries of Christmas gift giving and gratitude surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ. He also explains how St. Nicholas got a makeover in every country where his story was told. Santa Claus, Kris Kringle, Father Christmas.... are all different personifications of St. Nicholas of Bari. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
For centuries, both the faithful and science-based folks have wondered about the Star of Bethlehem. What was it? From where did it come? Is it a myth, a miracle, or was it natural occurring astronomical event? The Star, as told in the Gospel of Matthew, led the Magi to a little town called Bethlehem, about five miles south of Jerusalem. It was a sign in the heavens that told them a King was born, a King that would be in the line and lineage of King David. Many astronomers believed it was a conjunction of planets. German scientist Johannes Kepler believed it was the conjunction of three planets, Jupiter, Saturn and Venus. But while astronomers today use Kepler's exact mathematical calculations to map the motion of the planets, lawyer and Star enthusiast Rick Larson has taken it many steps further, and has found the link between the Bible's prophecies, the motion of the planets, and the signs in the sky. The heavens do indeed "declare the glory of God," as Psalm 19 announces. In this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Larson gives a synopses of his findings, which are in his film Star of Bethlehem, and his website bethlehemstar.com, which gives even more details of tying God's message to us, to the motion of the planets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The ever witty and always keenly aware of what's wrong and right in the world... syndicated columnist and former Fox News contributor Cal Thomas, has a lot to say about the state of America, the condition of the human heart... and the true meaning of Christmas. Cal's latest book, America's Expiration Date, gives him plenty of material to draw upon as he takes a sober look at the clues that signal America's downfall. But then he also gives the Good News about the solution to which this season of joy points. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Cal gives a candid analysis of the three major precursors that have historically caused the downfall of great civilizations: massive debt, uncontrolled immigration without assimilation, and loss of shared values... and shows how America is on the path of all three. But then there's the hope of Christmas and what it brings to all who believe.... and his quote at the end that says understanding the true meaning of Christmas, of a babe born in a manger, of a world hungry for hope... begins first in our hearts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The mainstream media vilified him. The court of public opinion pronounced him guilty even before his trial. And then an Australian Court followed suit and convicted him of sexually abusing two choir boys in 1996, while he was the Archbishop of Melbourne, Australia. George Cardinal Pell was the highest-ranking clergyman in the Roman Catholic Church to be convicted of child sexual abuse. But after serving thirteen months of a six-year sentence, Australia's highest court acquitted him of all charges by unanimous vote. Why the sudden turn around? Much of the evidence that would have found him innocent was ignored or never presented. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, the Vatican's one-time high-ranking official talks about the journals he wrote while in prison, that are now books in three volumes. Volume three just released is subtitled "The High Court Frees an Innocent Man". There is, however, more intrigue to the story. Pell's predicament may not have been just the conjuring of a media firestorm wanting to find another priest guilty of abuse. There's also speculation that the abuse allegations might have been trumped up as a smear campaign, secretively instigated by his enemies in Rome, upset over his financial reforms he was making to clean up the Vatican's financial messes. He was brought in by Pope Francis and answered to him alone. Find out what His Eminence, Cardinal Pell has to say about his accusers and his alleged enemies in the Eternal City. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The story behind the Jewish Festival of Lights, is filled with intrigue, fear, war... and then of course, victory. The celebration of that victory gives us the miracle now known as Hanukkah, when a one day of sacred oil to light the Temple Menorah, last eight days. And eight days is significant because it as Moses directed, also the number of days old an infant must be for circumcision. It's another sign that nothing happens without God's knowledge or Divine direction. But Hanukkah has a lesson for us all: that God is working even when it seems He is not. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith Podcast, Rabbi Motti Seligson, with Chabad Lubavitch, explains how the leader of the Chabad Lubavitch, named the Rebbe, began a campaign in 1973 to elevate the celebration of Hanukkah, to educate not only Jews but the whole of America and the world about the Feast of Dedication. And find out why also, that Hanukkah is extremely early this year. Beginning today, Sunday, November 28th. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The British author, Clive Staples Lewis, aka C.S. Lewis had a keen, brilliant mind, whose conversion from staunch atheist to strong Christian is the narrative of a new film, The Most Reluctant Convert. The author of such books as "Mere Christianity" and "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe", which are heavily drenched in the Christian worldview... Lewis rejected Christianity early in his life after the death of his mother from cancer when he was just nine years of age. His experience of a cruel and meaningless world, brought him to the conclusion that "either there was no God behind the universe, a God indifferent to good and evil... or worse... an evil God." On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, actor Max McLean, who wrote and stars the film, which was adapted from the stage play, talks about the filming of the movie at Oxford, England, the reason behind Lewis's intellectual pathway to accepting the reality of an Omnipotent God and, the conversations that Lewis had with his friend J.R.R. Tolkien, who would later write, Lord of the Rings, that made his conversion complete. McLean is the founder and Artistic Director of the New York-based Fellowship of the Performing Arts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Long gone are the days of three or four TV channels, where networks were the behemoth gate keepers of everyone's entertainment content. Cable TV and now streaming has taken care of that. But there's another model rising that is challenging even Netflix and Google play. Angel Studios. This small but powerful upstart is not just going after values-based audiences, but asking the audiences to create the content, as well as the community that will support it. The submitted ideas, once accepted, will be produced through crowd-funded budgets. Angel Studios already has a hit with the series, The Chosen, a Bible-based series on the life and legacy of Jesus Christ. But there's other content in the wings. On this episode ofLighthouse Faith podcast, Neal Harmon, CEO of Angel Studios, talks about how he and his brothers created the new model for "Light" based content, and how Hollywood, to its detriment, really abandoned audiences who value honor and virtue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
You've probably never heard of Adam Brickel, unless you live in New Rochelle, New York or attended New Rochelle High School. He was an affable 15-year-old who everyone liked and who brought a lot of happiness to the diverse community of friends he hung out with, and to his family. I know that because I knew Adam. His grandmother Kitty is one of my spiritual mentors who's featured in my book, "Lighthouse Faith."
Adam was the fifth of six Brickel kids in an Irish Catholic, middle-class family. He was the one child his mother never had to worry about. No issues. And his mother, Naomi, was dealing with a lot of issues. Her husband was suffering from Parkinsons, one of her daughter's is autistic and needed special care. Her life was one challenge after the next.
But the greatest challenge came on November 12, 2017, when her second oldest son John Paul came to her room late at night and asked, "Where's Adam?". That began a frantic search, a call to 9-1-1, and then a blood curdling scream as John Paul discovered Adam's body on the sidewalk a half block away. He'd gone to walk the dog. The dog came back, but Adam didn't. The cause of death was a medical condition.
In the months and years after Adam's death, came an outpouring of blessings from young people Naomi never even realized Adam had in his circle of friends. A thousand plus came to the funeral at the Catholic Church; the New Rochelle Football team, hundreds of fellow classmates, Adam's teachers. And then, the strangest of all, Adam. It was during the funeral that Naomi realized Adam was still with her, still comforting her, still sending her signs.
On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Naomi talks about the book she wrote in the years since Adam's death called, "Not To Spoil The Ending... But Everything is Going to Be Ok: Insights from a Teenager in Heaven About Happiness Here." It's about Adam's impact on so many lives, how he, through simple acts of kindness lived out the words of Jesus, to bring comfort and joy to a hurting world. And also, how Naomi found a deeper faith, a real faith... in the words of Dr. Seuss, "Don't be sad it's over, smile because it happened." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Halloween is one of the most fun childhood events; dressing up and trick-or-treating is a yearly ritual. But lost in the festivities is the possibility of real evil, real ghosts and yes, even real demon possession and infestations. Billy Hallowell takes a modern look at all three in his book, "Playing with Fire." On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Hallowell talks about the real-life demon possession of a teenage boy in 1949 that was the inspiration behind the 1973 movie "The Exorcist," as well as more recent accounts of possessions and exorcisms. While all of it is spine tingling and alarming, what should give us hope and strength is what the Bible has to say about spiritual evil and how it is to be dealt with. Hallowell says modern people may scoff at religion, but still believe in ghosts and the paranormal. And certainly, Hollywood is cashing in on our obsession with the occult. But the Scriptures never take such beliefs lightly and warns about assigning the devil too much power, or too little. In the end, the solution is to "Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The book of Esther is one of only two books in the Bible- Old or New Testament- that never mentions God, the Lord, Yahweh, or any other of His Names. In fact one theologian said the writer of Esther seems to go out of his or her way, to not mention God. And yet, the Almighty and His Divine providence are present throughout the entire narrative of one young Jewish woman's act of incredible bravery. The subtext of the book of Esther is 'the silent sovereignty of God.' But the main point of the book is the fact that God's glory reigns, and that perhaps, "You Were Made for This Moment". That is the title of Pastor Max Lucado's new book. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Pastor Lucado talks about his exegesis of the book of Esther, how the events surrounding her situation are so parallel to our own today. Esther's story is about having faith in the face of incredible adversity. Like modern believers today, she had been acquiesced into a dominant culture that had watered down her faith and enjoyed many of the benefits it brought. But when the crisis came, her faith became fire, and she saved millions of her people from certain death. She was in fact, made for that moment. Pastor Lucado lets us see how Esther's story is our own. That in fact we were, Made for This Moment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It’s one of the most mysterious books in the Bible… Revelation, the last and final book of the Holy Scriptures. It’s believed to be written by the Apostle John while in exile on the Greek Island of Patmos. There the resurrected Jesus appeared to him and brought to him the words of the book. Filled with prophecy and cryptic predictions about the end times and the coming apocalypse, Revelation is often misunderstood or misinterpreted. But in its opening salvo, are Christ’s words to Seven Churches, seven Christian communities residing in towns in what today is Turkey. The churches are Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. Filmmaker Tim Mahoney and his Patterns of Evidence company, takes a look at the messages to the seven churches to see what secrets they hold. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Mahoney talks about his recently released documentary., The Seven Churches of Revelation: Times of Fire. It’s a deep dive into the warnings and words of hope to the early Christians living in a culture that has yet to accept them. They are struggling against the dominant political winds and it’s meant to help them stand strong, but also admonish them for their falling away. Mahoney says in that way Revelation is not just for the early Church, but for CHRISTIANs today, living under a dominant worldview of secular and pagan forces which they must strive to resist. What was true them is true today. And Revelation makes that clear. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Without a body, and without direct DNA evidence, J. Warner Wallace has solved cold case murder cases that were decades old. His expertise in cracking some of the most baffling crimes, made him one of the most sought-after detectives. But then this one-time atheist turned his skills to investigating Jesus Christ. And what he found turned his life around. The result was his first book Cold Case Christianity, and an entire teaching ministry and website devoted to helping others discover what he was able to untangle about the most influential man in the history. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Wallace talks about his new book Person of Interest: Why Jesus Still Matters in a World that Rejects the Bible. Once again, Wallace used his skills to discover how Jesus' appearance at a certain time in history, seems likely to be some part of a divine grand historical narrative, that even without leaning on the New Testament, any researcher could piece together the gospel using only today's art, music, literature, buildings, science and more. Wallace views each murder as an explosion. And just like every explosion there is a fuse of clues leading up to the blast. In the book, he weaves the investigation of a real, unsolved cold-case murder, with the investigation into the death of Jesus Christ. And for podcast listeners Wallace also turned his attention to the most talked about case today, the Gabby Petito murder. What should or shouldn't have investigators done in the case? Is there any other scenario by which Brian Laundrie is not the prime suspect? What are the clues in the fuse leading up to the moment when Gabby lost her life? Whether a crime is two thousand years old, or a few weeks old, there are always clues. And Wallace can find them Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
They started out as two pastors who just wanted to make movies about faith in Jesus Christ, because the greatest story ever told, needed to reach more people. Alex and Stephen Kendrick now are well-established filmmakers whose movies have made millions of dollars and their message of the Gospel has transformed millions of lives. And they did it all without compromising their belief that Jesus "is the way the Truth and the life...". All that experience has helped them present their first documentary with all the pathos, passion, and power of seasoned professionals. Show Me the Father, takes a look at true stories of fatherhood that will leave audiences in gasped surprise. These stories have all the twists and turns of any fictional narrative, perhaps even more so. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Alex and Stephen talk about the making of documentary as well as the tenth-year anniversary of their film Courageous, which is also about fatherhood. The re-release of the film features a re-edit that includes updates of the stories in the film; sort of a 'where are they now', addition. The importance of fathers and fatherhood is foundational to the Kendrick's lives, and, as they see it, to all our lives. Good fathers make a child's life happy, while bad fathers can make a child's life a living hell. But both films highlight that only God the Heavenly Father, offers the perfection and unconditional love that all hearts crave. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Even two podcasts with scientist Dr. Michael Guillen isn't enough to explain the vastness of his discoveries involving Science and Christianity. Yes, science and Christianity. Not science and any other faith, but science and the religion founded by Jesus of Nazareth. When last I interviewed Guillen, who is a physicist, astronomer, and mathematician, he talked about how he came to faith in Jesus, and how the words of Jesus sounded a great deal like the uniqueness of quantum physics. His investigation into Christianity over a period of years forced him to shed his atheism and embrace the Risen Savior. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Guillen takes a deeper dive into his new book "Believing is Seeing" to explain how when he compared essential features of science, Christianity and Atheism, Science and Christianity lined up almost as one; Atheism nothing. For example, Guillen asked, "Does absolute truth exist?" Science says "Yes." Christianity says, "Yes." Atheism says, "No." The scientific mind needs to know facts, yes. But then there are ways to understand those facts that require an SQ, a Spiritual Quotient. It's the difference between knowing honey is sweet, and actually having tasted honey. Experience completes the knowledge. If God is the behind the entire created order, we can certainly know about his creation through science. However, there's a wide chasm between knowing about God, and having an experience of His presence. Guillen takes us on that journey of discovery of God through science. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
A brush with death nearly a decade ago convinced Chrisitan author Lee Strobel that he needed to find out about this thing called Heaven that his faith promised he would go to once life left his body. The one-time atheist journalist- turned Christian, is known for his investigative skills in researching Christian beliefs. It was because of his skeptical approach to ferreting out the facts of the faith that he became a believer in Jesus Christ. His book, "The Case for Christ," is a best seller. Since then, he's written several books on the same theme to explore Christianity's claims. "The Case for a Creator," and "The Case for Miracles" are a couple more. But now his latest offering is, "The Case for Heaven." Strobel takes a hard look at this ethereal place asking, What is Heaven? Where is Heaven? Is Heaven a place or a state of mind? And what about Hell? The Bible talks about it being a place of fire and darkness where the Satan and his minions will suffer eternal damnation. However, many theologians believe this 'fire and darkness' is only metaphor for the inner turmoil of being separated from God. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Strobel talks about what he has uncovered in his interviews with experts. Plus, he searches for answers through science about the nature of the soul. What is the soul? Can it be separated from your body? What about reincarnation and cremation? Are they consistent with Jesus's teachings or opposed to them. And finally, could Near Death Experiences (NDR's) be the clue to telling us about heaven... and hell? Strobel explores how this heavily researched and documented phenomenon shows convincing proof that Heaven exists, and so does Hell. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Romans 8:28 says "all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Twenty years after the 9/11 terror attacks that murdered nearly three thousand people we are beginning to see 'the good' that God brought on that day. That someone like Christina Stanton, a regular New Yorker who ran for her life after the second plane came within 500 feet of her apartment balcony... would find a deeper, more real faith in Jesus Christ. That Peter Johansen, the director of Ferry Operations, would become God's agents in helping to rescue a half million people through a massive boat evacuation and how the two people who were strangers before 9/11, became friends. It was New York's version of Dunkirk, the mass evacuation of people stranded in what became a war zone on 9-11. The Coast Guard estimates 500 thousand people were taken off the Island in Lower Manhattan. The only way to New Jersey, or Staten Island or the closest ports of land, was by boat. It was the largest marine evacuation in history, surpassing Dunkirk, the rescue of Allied soldiers from the coast of France during World War II. Sightseeing boats, catamarans, small boats, large boats, private boats. Johansen was the Senior Director of Ferry Operations for New York Waterway, when the attacks happened. The ferry boats normally handle 33,000 people a day. It wasn't enough on 9/11. The Coast Guard sent out a plea, "All available boats!" And they responded. The tugboats in Staten Island, Fishing boats in Sheepshead Bay, every boat was full, every run. People waited in line three or four hours. Stanton, her husband, and dog were also rescued. As she writes in her story, "We collapsed onto a bench... It felt so good to sit down. A wave of relief washed over me as we chugged away from the shore. After three hours of terror, we were off the island. We were alive." On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Stanton and Johansen talk about NYC's boat evacuation, and their part in the testament to the power of the 'good' that is in our hearts. That evil will fail, that good will prevail. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
There are about twelve thousand Christians in Afghanistan and most, if not all, fear for their safety now that U.S Forces have officially pulled out. But even though they’re a small minority, they are a brave lot, who even in the face if an impending Taliban takeover, changed the religion on their national identity cards to read, Christian, in a country where Islam is the only official religion. World Magazine’s Senior Editor Mindy Belz said it was because “They wanted something to pass on to their children and to other generations, they wanted not to just be secret people who disappeared when they died.” On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Belz talks about the dangers now faced by the Christians and religious minorities in Afghanistan. She has been in constant contact with the Afghan Church, whose members are mostly Muslim converts… some had even embraced Islamic extremist ideology. But now their standing up for Jesus could cost them dearly. Many tried and did escape before U.S. Forces left, but many did not. And now their act of fealty to their faith could prove tragic. Because now those government cards are in the hands of the Taliban, who’ve been systematically going door to door hunting down American allies… and Christians. Find out how these Christians may hold the key to a better Afghanistan. They are the seed of the Gospel, which Jesus said even the gates of hell could not destroy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Historians agree, there was a dark side to Karl Marx, the German born founding father of Communism and Socialism. But did he actually worship the devil? Was he possessed? He wrote in a poem, “Thus Heaven I've forfeited, I know it full well… my soul, once true to God, is chosen for Hell." On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, best-selling author Dr. Paul Kengor talks about his book, "The Devil and Karl Marx". In it he uncovers the sinister soul of the man whose writings and economic philosophies, have helped formed totalitarian, atheist governments like Soviet Russia, Communist China and others... murderous regimes that are responsible for the deaths of over a 100 million people in the 20th century alone. And what should disturb us, is that Marxism is behind the philosophies of our modern-day cultural movements like Critical Race Theory, Critical Social Justice, and Black Lives Matter. Kengor quotes Marx's biographer Robert Payne who wrote, "There were times when Marx seemed to be possessed by demons. He had the devil's view of the world and the devil's malignity. Sometimes Marx seemed to know that he was accomplishing works of evil." Marx was certainly no angel, but Kengor says it's odd that movements like BLM should look to a man who was a racist and misogynist for guidance; a man who wanted to destroy all norms like the family and personal property. He believes that if the founders of these movements understood Marx, they would really see how, "the Devil is in the details." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Today, the city of Hebron in the Middle East is rife with modern day political conflicts between Arabs and Jews. But its ancient history should give us all pause to remember that we are brothers and sisters, one race... the human race. Nearly four thousand years ago the patriarch Abraham purchased a plot of land there to bury his beloved wife Sarah. Years later, his two sons, Isaac and Ishmael, who had once been estranged, buried their father in that same cave. The Bible tells us that Jews and Christians are descended from Isaac, while Arabs from Ishmael. Two thousand years ago, King Herod built over the burial cave a magnificent structure known as The Tomb of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs. It is still there today and holds many secrets and mysteries of kinship of all peoples. The Jewish mystical writings of Kabbalah, says the cave under the tomb is also the burial site of Adam and Eve, the parents of all humanity. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Yishai Fleisher, spokesperson for the Jewish Community in Hebron, unearths some of the secrets of the Tomb.... and why it is an important site for unity, in a city that has seen so much strife. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Those who serve our country protecting its freedoms, oftentimes sacrifice more than just their lives. They come home physically and emotionally wounded. Though heroics are often the battle cry of warfare, the hurting of the soul in the aftermath is a reality they face alone. Enter Chad Robichaux. He almost became a statistic of the high suicide rate among veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress. As a Force Recon Marine, he served eight deployments in Afghanistan. Although trained to take on the enemy using advanced battle tactics and brute strength, he was ill prepared to face an adversary he could not see, hear, or touch. His strength as a Martial Arts Champion and a black belt in Jui Jitsu, could not defeat the enemy that lie within: depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts. He alienated his family, suffered depression, and nearly destroyed every relationship he had because he didn't have the arsenal for spiritual warfare. But then he had hope. And that hope came not from strength but from weakness... from submitting himself to God's power to heal. And that is the victory he shares with other veterans through his Mighty Oaks Foundation. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Robichaux talks about this journey with God and his book An Unfair Advantage: Victory in the Midst of Battle, soon to be made into a movie.. He's dedicated the book to men, to "challenge and inspire them to rise up and be the warriors God created them to be." Spiritual warriors, able to claim victory over the enemy within. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Diversity, equity, and inclusion, all sound like wonderful ideas, except that they have become tools to control schools, government, and businesses. It's the kind of soft power that creeps up on a country, sort of the like the proverbial frog boiled in water. That is what best-selling author Rod Dreher says is happening to America. In his book, "Live Not By Lives: A Manual for Christian Dissidents," he says history is telling us that the land of the free and home of the brave is moving slowly towards Totalitarianism... not from the government but from far-left elements that promote Woke ideology to indoctrinate generations. Think Soviet Union, Cuba, even Nazi Germany. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Dreher give examples of his interviews with Christians who fled from oppressive regimes in Europe and came to America to find some of the same things happening here. Things like the pulling down of statues, erasing the past accomplishments of men once celebrated as heroes, controlling the content of news and entertainment. And anyone who disagrees - aka dissidents- is canceled. Dreher says the writing is on the walls, the question is, is anybody reading it? Listen now to understand how to respond to what's happening in the world today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Will Thompson, director of Fellowship of Christian Athletes in Tokyo, doesn't personally know gymnast Simone Biles, but knows what a great problem for elite athletes like her can be, making your sport your identity. The pressure to succeed at all costs is one of the great dangers for anyone who sacrifices time, relationships, and money, in order to become the best of the best. Us normal folks only see their crowning glory, an Olympic gold medal, or multi-million-dollar endorsement contracts. But what we don't see is the toll it takes on their souls. The secular version is called 'mental health.' But for Thompson, he knows that behind the clinical term is a spiritual longing. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Thompson talks about how FCA's ministry's outreach to athletes of all ilk, is to lead them to Jesus Christ, as the only love that can truly satisfy. Because for elite athletes, or elite anything... musician, actor, architect, finance genius... their craft becomes their fundamental trust and their identity. Biles' pulling out of competition at the greatest athletic event in history, is an example of someone who was brave enough to say, 'there's something more important.' It's the cautionary tale so many athletes like Biles, Naomi Osaka and Michael Phelps are recognizing. For Thompson, it, "sheds light upon the need for spiritual fulfillment and also spiritual care for these athletes." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
There are many people of faith that believe the Boy Scouts of America has lost its way. Where once the organization was almost a rite of passage for boys on the way to becoming men, today it is not just about boys or affirming their strengths. Girls are also invited to join, even though there's such an organization called, "Girl Scouts". And the BSA is not about character based on serving God and country, but about individual achievements. Then there's the tragedy of thousands of boys who now claim they were sexually abused by troop leaders or older boys in authority positions, leading to hundreds of millions of dollars paid out to settle those claims. Whatever you think of the BSA, there has arisen an alternative to the 110-year-old organization. It's called Trail Life USA. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Trail Life's CEO Mark Hancock talks about how his organization is growing by leaps and bounds, while BSA's membership is shrinking. Hancock has said that the Boy Scouts of America abandoned its 'laser focus on boys', it's faith-based mission, and it's moral compass. Trail Life has made all three parts of its core principles. It is unapologetically Christ centered in its mission to help boys cultivate their God-given strengths. And they're making it clear that the phrase, 'boys will be boys' means something positive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dr. Michael Guillen - physicist, astronomer and mathematician - lays to waste the old debate about whether science and religion get along. Not only are they compatible, but it is because of science that he became a Christian. In fact, it was the paradoxical words of Jesus, "Love your enemies," "The meek shall inherit the world," "The first shall be last," that he saw the scientific concept of a Quantum Vacuum come to life. Guillen is the former science correspondent for ABC News and was a professor of physics at Harvard for eight years. Bottom line, he's no slouch when it comes to understanding science. He lives and breathes it daily. He was once an atheist but began exploring the various forms of spirituality. He tried Transcendental Meditation, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and then finally found Christianity. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Guillen talks about his new book, "Believing Is Seeing: A Physicist Explains How Science Shattered His Atheism and Revealed the Necessity of Faith." It is science that helped him find his faith, and it is his faith that lets him see science as God's creation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The question for all politicians-- and the politically engaged-- who also claim to be people of faith, is: Does your faith inform your politics, or does your politics inform your faith? It doesn't matter from which side of the aisle you ponder your political positions; it is difficult to mix your faith with your political convictions. Our greatest example could probably be President Abraham Lincoln, who lived out the gospel of grace and forgiveness to its truest application in a sin-filled world, and it cost him his life. Bill Haslam, former two-term governor of Tennessee, is a strong advocate for staying true to your faith, though it may cause you to make unpopular decisions, even within your own party. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Governor Haslam talks about his new book, "Faithful Presence: The Promise and the Peril of Faith in the Public Square." He also weighs in on the tumult around Hobby Lobby's Independence Day newspaper ad that some critics claimed was a call for a Christian government, as well as on the IRS denying tax-exempt status to the Texas based, Christians Engaged, because their biblical values were a repeat of the Republican agenda. These two examples are how politics and faith are clashing in the civic arena. And it's why people of faith need to be more involved, not less. Governor Haslam says for right now, he has no political ambitions, but he still wants to be a public servant, taking his faith boldly into the public square, and encouraging others to do the same. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
America is 245 years old! Happy Birthday! We've come a long way and become a great nation and a great power. But with great power comes great responsibility. And America could be at a defining moment in history. According to historian Os Guinness, all our struggles and founding documents have as their fuel the covenant the Israelites made with God at Mt. Sinai. Freedom comes from God. Not from man. The only true freedom in this world has as its author, The Almighty. The signers of the Declaration of Independence at the Second Continental Congress of July 4th, 1776 knew that. But today, many of our citizens of this Republic do not know that, or if they do, are trying to re-write history in their own image. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, historian and best-selling author Os Guinness talks about his new book, The Magna Carta of Humanity: Sinai's Revolutionary Faith and The Future of Freedom. He makes the claim that today's Woke ideology, various forms of Critical Theory, and the tearing down of historic statues is not part of our 1776 roots and the American war of Independence from Great Britian, but on the French Revolution, whose foundation is the Enlightenment and secularism. But Guinness goes a step further and says God's Law is the only source of true freedom. Because the paradox of freedom is that it must be ordered, otherwise freedom begets anarchy. If there are no rules to follow, laws to obey, then freedom itself becomes an oppressive cudgel, morphing into a 'will to power.' Are we there yet? Listen and find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The media have been in an uproar over the U.S. Bishops' vote to create a document on Eucharistic consistency. That phrase basically means the faithful should be consistent concerning what they believe and how they conduct their lives. Sounds simple, but the underlying intent, which most articles focus on, is whether it's a document that will give bishops nationwide the theological muscle to deny Catholic politicians like President Joe Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Holy Communion for supporting abortion rights. But there's a problem here. Most Catholics don't believe, or are ignorant, of what the Church teaches about the Eucharist. In 2019, a Pew study revealed that only a third of Catholics believe that the bread and wine are transformed during the Mass into the actual Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, as the Church teaches. So clearly two thirds, believe what the Protestants teach, which is the elements represent the Body and Blood. So Bishops have to do more than create a document. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, San Francisco's Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, explains what the bishops did, and what they did not do. He also answers critics in Congress - about 60 Catholic Democrats, who issued a Statement of Issues lambasting the Bishops over their decision. As the saying goes, Religion and Politics make odd bedfellows. And nowhere has that become more apparent than this current divisiveness within Catholicism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Michael W. Smith's greatest cheerleader in life was his father, Paul Smith. He supported him in his passion for music, even though his own talents were in sports. What a unique relationship that is. A father who not only lets his son find his passion in life, even if its different from his own.. but encourages him to pursue it wholeheartedly. But that was Paul Smith, who passed away in 2015, leaving the Grammy Award winning Christian artist with a huge hole in his heart. However, Paul Smith gave his son a legacy that death could not take away; a faith in his Heavenly Father, that will last into eternity. Fathers have an incredibly powerful influence on their children. Even their absence is felt as a profound loss in a child's soul. And then there are fathers who are physically present but emotionally distant, unapproachable, or even abusive. They too have a profound influence on their children. Theological experts say, a child's view and relationship with their earthly father has a correlation to how the child sees God. Authoritative or permissive, judgmental, or loving... all these have influence. Michael W. Smith, says his father, although not perfect, was the quintessential father, who sacrificed so much of himself to serve not only him but his mother and grandmother. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Smith talks about his father and the book he just wrote that honors him called, 'The Way Of The Father: Lessons From My Dad, Truths About God". The truth is, we all need our fathers. They play a vital role in our lives, yet today's society would have us believe they are unnecessary. But every study shows that when fathers are present, supportive, and loving, to their children, children thrive. The tragedy of course is, not all children have earthly fathers they can rely on. And that, says Michael W. Smith is why a Heavenly Father is all the more important. To know the Father is to be known down to the depths of your being, and at the same time, loved unconditionally. That is the Way of Thee Father. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Before our Constitution, or the Declaration of Independence... and before any Bill of Rights... there was the Mayflower Compact. It was a covenant between a group of religious castaways from Europe and an Almighty God, the God of the Judeo-Christian Bible. The group had no power or influence, and when they arrived on the shores of New England more than 400 years ago, before leaving the vessel they'd lived in for months, they wrote a pact, a covenant...with God. Historian Dr. Marshall Foster says, "the covenant is between themselves and God to obey His word...to obey God and to love one another and to build a constitutional republic. That's actually what they built." In today's society there's heated debate about America's roots, about whether it is a Christian nation or one that is primarily secular and pluralistic when it comes to religious beliefs. But, if covenants have power, like that of Noah's, Abraham's, Moses's and Jesus's.... we should think soberly about the real cause of this country's prosperity. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Dr. Foster talks about his book "The American Covenant: The Untold Story", that explores America's religious beginnings that students will not learn in today's public schools. It's a narrative that says our "Economic prosperity, and individual liberty can only be attributed to the hand of God and the covenant between our founders and their creator." And that every founding document had in its core the belief that God ultimately would be leading this nation. As Benjamin Franklin wrote to George Washington as the Constitutional Convention of 1787 hit snag after snag, "God governs the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings that 'except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.'... I firmly believe this." Dr. Foster writes, "The Convention went on to complete its task." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
As "woke ideology" makes its way through the secular culture, one author Noelle Mering says it's actually on a collision course with Christianity. In the fall of 2020, at Loyola Academy, a tony Catholic prep school outside of Chicago, parents began whispering to one another about the loud and swiftly escalating political ideology pressing into all corners of their kids’ education. High-paid diversity consultants were brought in for the sake of training faculty and students on Critical Race Theory and Woke ideology. But many of the parents, some very progressive, realized the consultants' message preached an agenda that is in direct conflict with that of the Gospel. Mering writes about the dilemma in an article in the National Catholic Register. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast Mering dissects the disease of Woke ideology and its infiltration into all communities, as an evangelization of a doctrine at odds with Christianity. She said after the article appeared she got calls from several parents around the country saying the same thing was happening in their Catholic schools. Mering, the author of the book "Awake Not Woke," outlines three ways the Woke ideology assaults Church teaching: it rejects the individual person, even putting its ideology over parents' authority; it rejects reason, by squashing honest dialogue in a quest for power; and it rejects reverence for the authority of God. Mering writes: "What is rejected—reason, the person, and authority—the three characteristics of the Logos, which is the mind of God, communicated in the person of Jesus Christ, who is the author of, and authority over, all. Whether explicitly or not, he is the ultimate target of the woke revolt." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It may seem like two totally different topics, Memorial Day and scientific discoveries. And for the most part they are. But for Memorial Day it's good to remember what this holiday really means. And also, when Historian William Federer writes a book about humanity's scientific discoveries and the faith of those who discovered them, it's good to talk about that too. So, on this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Federer gives us a two-fer: Memorial Day and the Miraculous Milestones of science. Federer is a walking, talking encyclopedia of history and faith. He knows about how faith has brought us this far and how faith continues to be the foundational stronghold of this country and the historical faith that compelled people to honor the men and women who lost their lives fighting for the freedoms we enjoy in this Republic called the United States of America. But the larger picture is that we live in world, a universe, a created order that is not of our making. And it's precisely that ordered nature that gives us a clue to who God is. The Psalmist writes, "The heavens declare the glory of God." What better motivation to explore how the heavens work? That is what brought Copernicus, Galileo and Kepler to their greatest discoveries. Listen and find out how faith played a part in man's greatest scientific achievements. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Voddie Baucham talks about the 'critical' challenges now facing the Christian Church in its quest to be racially compassionate, and that evangelicals are teetering close to denying the authority of Scripture. Being a Black male who grew up in the gang-infested area of Los Angeles, Baucham has a unique perspective on this current cultural moment of Critical Race Theory, Critical Social Justice, and the Woke ideology. In his new book, "Fault Lines: The Social Justice Movement and Evangelicalism's Looming Catastrophe", Baucham does more than ruffle a few feathers. He plucks the fowl of all its plumage, exposing the false narratives of the movement that is fast encroaching on the Church. For example, the oft repeated statistic that Black men are killed by police 2.5x more than White men is statistically unfounded. Baucham sites two studies, one by a Harvard professor and another by the National Institute of Sciences, which found it to be false. But Baucham's real point is that these false narratives conflict with the Bible. He says in "Fault Lines", "I believe the current concept of social justice is incompatible with biblical Christianity," and warns that "the current cultural movement is at best precarious." Baucham could almost be considered a walking and talking enigma, whose life today is in stark contrast to his early upbringing. Raised by a single mother in the gang and drug ladened world of Los Angeles' Watts neighborhood, Baucham was steeped in his identity of being Black. He played college football and considered an NFL career. Malcolm X was his hero, until he met Jesus Christ. Now the conservative Christian, father of nine children, who is the Dean of Theology at African Christian University in Lusaka, Zambia, is on the verge of becoming a household name. His new book lays out a scenario by which all will be challenged to check their prejudices at the door, and that racial reconciliation is not just about White's making reparations for the past crime of slavery, but a collective effort of all of God's children, made in His image. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
There's a crisis in the world today; the rise of angry protests and the primal scream of politics are evidence. Yet, while it's easy to identify the problem, it's difficult to find a solution. Ah, but the solution has always been with us. It's God's truth and God's love perfectly bound together in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Many theologians say Christianity is what built America, and its truths are what has sustained it. However, today's culture has let the passions of self, dictate its laws. Identity politics is where we are today. As one great theologian said, "fire makes a great servant, but a bad master." On this episode of Lighthouse Faith, Dr. Michael Youssef talks about what is lacking in this world, faith in God's authority. He offers a solution in his new book, "Hope for This Present Crisis." He makes the bold statement that America's turning from the Christian faith has been its undoing. And one of the main causes is happening right in the Church. Pastors themselves are watering down the Gospel to make it more user friendly to a secular society that is clamoring against its truths about gender, family and marriage. Listen to Dr. Youssef, founder and senior pastor of The Church of the Apostles in Atlanta, talk about the problem of cancel culture, indoctrination of students, and finally, the "Seven-step Path to Restoring a World Gone Mad." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Boston College philosophy professor Dr. Peter Kreeft, is well known for his candid approach to Christianity and culture. He's an octogenarian who has his hand on the pulse of today's younger generations. That's because he's been teaching them for decades. This conservative, Catholic convert, speaks openly about what's wrong with the world. And his latest book zeros in on the foundational cause of our dilemma, that is the cause after the Fall from Grace. It's the fact that we're not having children. And it IS a fact because census figures show the birth rate is at its lowest since the Great Depression. But that's not the only issue Kreeft is griping about. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Kreeft talks about his newest book , "How To Destroy Western Civilization: And Other ideas from the Cultural Abyss". It's a sober look at how we in the West are destroying ourselves through abortion, yes, but also by ignoring God's truth about why we're here and our purpose in life. But not to dwell on the negative, he then takes a look at some of the most beautiful and heartfelt poetry in the Bible, the book of Psalms. In his book, "Wisdom of the Psalms," Kreeft takes a deep dive into ten of the 150 Psalms that have the greatest meaning to him. For the second half of the podcast he talks about how these ancient writings that both Jews and Christians use for worship, can be understood more fully by today's modern minds. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
So you'll have to wait to the latter part of the podcast to get the answers to "Who Made God?" and whether aliens have anything to do with the origins of life. But it's well worth hearing anything Hank Hanegraaff has to say in the meantime. Hanegraaff is the Bible Answer Man who caused a minor quake within Evangelical circles a few years ago when he converted to Orthodox Christianity. It exposed two Millenia of growing fissures within the Church that Jesus Christ bled and died for. So, it's good to talk about why there are these divisions within Christianity. And a blatant one is the date of Easter. Most years the Western and Eastern churches celebrate Easter within a week or two of each other, but this year, Orthodox Easter is May 2nd, four weeks after Roman Catholics and Protestants celebrated it. And it's not what the Church Fathers wanted. If there's one thing that should unite all Christians, it's their worshipping of the Risen Savior together on Easter Sunday. The Resurrection defines Christianity, and while the date of Easter may seem like a small difference (as long as we're all living in the transforming power of the event) it is one of many divergences that together has cut a wider chasm. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Hanegraaff explains why people who worship the same God, could have such different views of that same God and still call themselves by the same name. And yes, he will tell you, "Who made God?" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
When you think of victorious women in the Bible, the one that's usually NOT brought to mind is Eve, as in Adam and Eve in the Garden, as in the one responsible for the Fall from Grace and all the tumult that that unleashed on the world. Well, despite Eve's one mistake (and it was a huge one) Sarah Jakes Roberts has "fallen in love" with her. It wasn't always so. Three years ago, she began to focus on Eve after vilifying her saying, "You had one job!" and complaining that she should have known better than to be seduced by Satan into eating the forbidden fruit. But then Jakes Roberts began to look at her own life; pregnant at 13, married then divorced she realized, she should have known better. After all, her father is the well-known mega-church pastor and mega businessman, Bishop T.D. Jakes. Only through God's grace could Eve become the hero. And she did. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Sarah Jakes Roberts talks about her new book, "Women Evolve: Break Up with Your Fears & Revolutionize Your Life" and how Eve's story is the narrative of victory for all women whose pasts have crippled their view of the future. Jakes Roberts unearths an exegesis of Eve's Divine role in the narrative of redemption, and how it is a battle cry of triumph for all women. Jakes Roberts herself now co-pastors two churches with her husband Toure' Roberts, founded the new Women Evolve Lifestyle Movement, and explains that the Bible's mandate "to be fruitful and multiply" doesn't just apply to bearing children, but to the cultivating of talents and the gifts God has given you for the flourishing of family and community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Christianity and Judaism share a great deal of history and faith. Just look at how many times the dates of Passover and Easter coincide. It's because Jesus's Last Supper in the upper room, was in fact the Jewish Passover meal in which He makes a new covenant, through His anticipated sacrifice. Instead of the lamb's blood on the doorframes, it is Jesus's blood shed on the Cross. But there's far more that Christians and learn by unlocking the numerical code that's all through the Bible and particularly the Old Testament. Rabbi Jason Sobel, a Messianic Jewish Rabbi, has explored and rolled away the stones of this mathematical mystery in his new book Mysteries of the Messiah: The Rock, The Road, The Rabbi. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Rabbi Sobel talks about how the Hebrew alphabet is key to understanding the numeric code (For example the number is of great significance as the number of new beginnings), that the five books of Moses-- the Pentateuch-- is immersed in figures of faith, knowledge and prophetic wisdom. He also talks about his spiritual mentorship of iconic actress, singer, author and talk show host Kathie Lee Gifford, and how he himself, a Jewish boy from New Jersey, came to be a follower of Yeshua, aka, Joshua, aka... Jesus Christ, The Messiah. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We are living in some of the most fractured and contentious times where religion has morphed into politics and politics has become a religion. And this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, is a living reality of that fact. Let me explain. On Easter Sunday, the newly elected Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock's tweeted a greeting that caused a storm of criticism because it trampled on the core tenet of Christianity, the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It might be forgiven if Warnock were a run of the mill politician unschooled in theological doctrine. But Warnock is also an ordained minister who leads Ebenezer Baptist Church, the iconic house of worship where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr preached. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, two ministers were supposed to discuss the tweet: one Black the other White. And not just any two. Odell Cleveland and Alex McFarland have a podcast called "I Hear Ya!" where any and all controversial subjects about race, religion and culture could be discussed in a faithful way, true to the Gospel. But apparently there are some subjects too controversial or perhaps too close to offending racial strongholds. Only Alex (who is White) came on to discuss the situation. Listen to the podcast, and understand how deep the divide is between race, politics and the Christian faith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Easter celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead; it is the cornerstone of Christianity. But what's more, it's what gives Christianity its power, 'incomparably great power.' For too long many Christian churches have treated the miracle of the Resurrection as something akin to the frosting on the cake or a high-five in the end-zone. It's celebrated once a year, but pastor and theologian Dr. Timothy Keller says the Resurrection is something we can and should live out daily. For if the Resurrection happened, it changes everything, "how we conduct relationship, our attitudes toward wealth and power, how we work in our vocations, our understanding and practice of sexuality, race relations, and justice." On this special Easter episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Keller, a best-selling author, talks about his new book, "Hope in Times of Fear: The Resurrection and the Meaning of Easter." In it, he explores why the Resurrection gives the world still suffering from a pandemic, a hope for the past, present and future; that it makes Christianity "a historical, reasonable, and gracious faith; and that it is Heaven come to earth to begin the 'restoration of the natural order,' the world that God intended. Keller writes, "The Bible's startling message is that when Jesus rose, he brought the future kingdom of God into the present. It is not here fully but it is here substantially." Listen and learn how Easter is cause for a tremendous, Hallelujah! The Lord is Risen! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
March is Women's History Month, so what better time to talk about the women of Bible. Popular culture would have us believe that the Good Book treats women as second-or third-class spiritual partners of their male counterparts. But the truth is women play pivotal roles in the redemptive narrative of the Holy Scriptures. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Fox News Anchor Shannon Bream talks about her new book, "Women of the Bible Speak: The Wisdom Of 16 Women and Their Lessons for Today. Bream shares her insights and new discoveries about women like Sarah and Hagar, Leah and Rachel, and of course, Mary, the mother of Jesus. But what's more, these women and the others she writes about, have something vital for women of today to learn from. Throughout their struggles and sufferings, joys and triumphs, these women showed incredible faith, patience and sometimes boldness. God so often chose women to be at the center of His work to bring salvation to a hurting world. And it's no different today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
She has the voice of an angel - an Irish angel that is. Actress Roma Downey grew to fame on the TV series "Touched by an Angel," telling millions of viewers each week that "There is a God, that He loves you, and wants to be a part of your life." It's a message that's now embedded in her work with husband/producer Mark Burnett. Their mini-series on The Bible a few years ago became a surprise hit; a surprise to the secular world of Hollywood elites that is, not to Roma and Mark. Their latest offering is on the cornerstone of Christianity, The Resurrection. It's a film that would have been released in theaters, but because of the pandemic it could not be. So they had a choice to either hold it for a year or find another outlet. And they chose the latter. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Downey talks about how the COVID-19 shutdown became the impetus to bring the film to viewers as another message of hope in a world hungry for it. She also talks about what it was like shooting in Morocco, and the actors and actresses who bring to life the story of how the Apostles went from despair and fear at the crucifixion of Jesus to joy and triumph as they live out His Resurrection. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Author Jonathan Cahn has written a string of novels based on biblical prophecy, and has yet another warning for America: we are doomed unless we return to God. Cahn, whose sequel book "Harbinger II: The Return," speaks at a frenetic pace detailing what he believes the Bible says about God’s judgment; both the past concerning the Old Testament’s nation of Israel, and future justice concerning America. Cahn makes the point that while we can debate whether America is a Christian nation, the fact is that George Washington, the first president of the United States, dedicated the country to God just a stone’s throw from Ground Zero, the site of the 9/11 attacks. For Cahn that is no coincidence. Just like the year of 2020 with its pandemic, uprisings and protests are part of his predictions. For Cahn the words of 2 Chronicles says it all: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and heal their land.” Now the choice we have: believe it or not. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
A new left-leaning Christianity helped Joe Biden win the White House for the Democrats. And now some Christian leaders like Dr. Frank Turek are accusing the Democratic Party of trying to mold the faith into its image, in the likeness of the Democratic platform. How else could supporters make the case that Biden is a "good Catholic" while advocating for the most extreme laws in favor of abortion? It just proves the culture wars are still alive and well and heading into overdrive as Turek, president of CrossExamined.org makes clear on this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast. Many may not like what he has to say, especially since he is a white, heterosexual male, the cancel culture's poster boy for oppression. But Turek is fighting for Dr. Martin Luther King's vision of not being judged by the color of his skin, but by the content of his character. You be the judge. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
George Weigel is one of those intellectual giants whose brain bandwidth gives him the prowess to say something profound on just about every topic. However, his specialty is the Catholic Church, Christian Doctrine, The Vatican, The Popes (any of them), culture, politics and politicians. Plus, commentary on where we've come as a society and where we're going. So his new book that pays homage to people who've influenced him, is well worth the read. And to hear him talk about it, is well-worth listening to. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Weigel, New York Times best-selling author and Senior Fellow at Washington's Ethics and Public Policy Center, discusses his new book, "Not Forgotten: Elegies For, And Reminiscences Of, A Diverse Cast of Characters, Most of Them Admirable." It's a departure from his usual one-topic projects in that there are 68 topics, people, actually, (although one of them isn't really a person). People like Fouad Ajami, a Middle East scholar; Vaclav Havel, former Czech president; Lindy Boggs, former U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See, and her daughter, TV journalist Cokie Roberts; and of course, Saint John Paul II, whom Weigel knew well and of whom wrote biographies. But beyond the book, Weigel gives his assessment of the newly elected President Joe Biden, who is only the second Catholic in history to be Commander in Chief. So, the discussion delves into the quagmire of abortion politics, and how Biden is getting heat from Catholic bishops over his promotion of something that is staunchly against Catholic teaching. What does Pope Francis think about Biden's eschewing Church teaching? How will the bishops control what Catholics believe while the president journeys down quite a different path? These are all things in Weigel's wheelhouse. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Black Church is unique to America. Born in the tumultuous years of slavery, nurtured in the fight for freedom and civil rights; it is a political and spiritual powerhouse of shared cultural experiences of a community that has suffer the weight of injustice. But things are changing in the Black Church. A new Pew study found that while sixty percent of Black Americans attend churches where the majority of the congregation and the ministers are Black, there's a large percentage that says race doesn't matter, and that if they were looking for a new church, the race of the congregation or the ministers wouldn't matter. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, lead Pew researcher, Dr. Besheer Mohamed breaks down the survey's stats and explains what it means for the Black Church and what it means as the country moves forward tackling its most salient conflicts. Will the Black Church diversify and become more multicultural? Or will it maintain is distinctive style of cultural engagement? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
She's a native of Saudi Arabia, raised in a conservative Muslim home. But Nouf, who prefers not to say her last name for security reasons, has lost nearly everything she holds dear, because she converted to Christianity. She lost custody of her two sons, her wealthy family has disowned her, and she's barely making ends meet. But she is also risking losing her life. In Saudi Arabia, converting from Islam is not only illegal, it is deserving of a death sentence. Still, Nouf counts herself lucky and blessed, because she is free here in America to live out her faith, and now wants to fight for other countless women she says are suffering in silence, fearing for their lives because they've converted from Islam to another religion. Nouf's story is one of intrigue as she confronted the Saudi government; betrayal, because she battled her own family under threat of death. According to the founders of Unchartered Ministries, she is one of a growing number of women from Muslim majority countries who have converted to Christianity or other religions, either online or from underground missionary work. But Nouf says because she comes from a prominent family in Saudi Arabia, she can make a tremendous impact by speaking out, which she is eager to do in order to help other women who may think there's no one who shares their fate. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith, meet the woman who risked everything for the sake of Jesus Christ. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The COVID-19 pandemic still shrouds our world, darkening hopes for a brighter future. For many people it's hard to see any light at the end of the proverbial tunnel, after having lost so much in the past year: loved ones, jobs, homes. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Pastor Max Lucado gives more than just hope for new beginnings, he gives concrete ways to be sure they're on the horizon: trust in the light of God's Truth. Scripture says, "In your light we see light." (Psalm 36:9) and that, "Even the darkness is as light" to God (Psalm 139:12). Pastor Max talks about how he taught his young daughters an important lesson about how to walk in darkness. He blindfolded them and told them to walk towards what they knew was a source of safety, his voice. It was a spiritual exercise to learn the often-scary experience of listening to the light of God's voice, while your world is in darkness. Lucado says it's how he now counsels' people today as the clouds of the pandemic and the upheavals of 2020 are still hanging over us. In his book "Begin Again," Pastor Max says that because God is creator, He's also the source of all new beginnings. So, it's important to listen to His voice that says, "All things work together for good for those who love Him and are called according to his purpose." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Every year for the past few decades, Open Doors USA releases its World Watch List, a top 50 lineup of countries where it is most dangerous to be a Christian. According to Open Doors president David Curry, there's a growing trend of more and more people dying because they are Christian. It is one of the most under reported phenomenon, that despite what mainstream media say, Christianity is the most persecuted religion globally. The top 10 worst countries for Christians contains the usual cast of characters, mainly Muslim majority nations like Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran. But the communist secular regime of North Korea leads the pack, as it has for 20 years. It's secretive dictatorship makes it illegal to even own a Bible. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Curry talks about the new trends affecting Christians, that 1 in 8 are persecuted worldwide, that more people than ever before are suffering for their religious beliefs, and that countries like China, Iran, India, and Nigeria are using the COVID-19 pandemic to justify the use of common technology to create a dangerous world for religious minorities. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
As of January 20th, Pastor Brian Gibson, a Kentucky mega church founder, was still in hiding and moving multiple times a day under protection from former Special Forces agents because of numerous death threats. It's all because months ago at a Trump rally in Arizona, he had a photo taken with a man in Viking horns who ended up being arrested and becoming 'the face' of those who stormed the Capitol. On January 5th, Gibson prayed with Trump supporters in Washington, DC. The next day he listened to Trump give his speech. Then he returned to his hotel. From there he learned what everyone else saw unfold, as Trump supporters stormed the Capitol. But Gibson was never there. However, social media married the Arizona photo and the Capitol photo of "The Viking," and now, the pastor who fought for religious freedom during the coronavirus shutdown, is fighting to keep his family safe. But beyond that, now some faith leaders worry that the mere association of being a conservative Evangelical will be reason enough to put you on a watch list. Media have called the attack, a Christian uprising. An article in The Dispatch that "a violent Christian insurrection." The Atlantic also called the riots a "Christian Insurrection," while Religion News Service reported that rioters were "Christian Nationalists." Patheos, meanwhile, has claimed riots were the work of "White Christian Nationalists." The Gospel of Jesus Christ belongs to no one race, country or creed. But Gibson sees that the Cancel Culture is like a dog with a bone. It won't let go. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Pastor Gibson talks about what happened to him, and the mood that's growing in the country that has made secular humanism the default religion of the nation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The New Year is here, and the old is better left squarely in the rear-view mirror. Very few of us thought the pandemic shutdown would last this long; nor did we imagine the subsequent political and social unrest that brought levels of angst and acrimony rarely seen outside of times of war. But in reality, the pandemic's Pandora's Box, just exposed what was already present; a deep-seeded quarrel we have not just with our fellow human beings, but ultimately, with our Maker, God. And being aware of that breach will not only help us survive but thrive in any cultural climate. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Reverend Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, spells out how to live faithful and victorious lives. He talks about his book, "From Survive to Thrive," and how the impetus to write it came as he watched his eldest daughter battle the coronavirus in a hospital ICU. He says, "Have you ever found yourself in a place where you say, Lord, I trust you, I believe in you. I know you're real. I can't explain everything, but I have truly no idea what to do next. And I reached that point, yeah, I reached a point, and a lot of people reached that point too." Listen to the podcast and find out what happened, and how thriving can be your testimony of God's sovereignty. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Today unmarried 'parenthood' is so passe it barely raises an eyebrow. In fact, it is oftentimes more celebrated than censured. And it's not just single motherhood, but divorce, serial monogamy, and various other forms of lifestyles that create instability for impressionable young souls that crave love and acceptance. But in the rush to 'cancel' and malign the culture or traditional family values, many people ignore the truths about how children thrive. Enter Mary Eberstadt, a Senior Research Fellow at The Faith and Reason Institute. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, she talks about her article in First Things magazine titled, "The Fury of Fatherlessness," and how she believes it is behind the rage erupting against established institutions like the Church, the Police Force, and the political protests witnessed over the last few months. In the article she says,"The riots amount to social dysfunction on parade." Eberstadt doesn't mitigate the causes behind the protests and is quick to agree they were legitimate reasons to protest. It's only the level of rage that seems off the charts. This dysfunction tied to fatherlessness has manifestations on the political left and right; behind Black Lives Matter and White Supremacy. And it's also linked to the growing separation from God, the One in whose image we are made. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Freedom of religion and freedom of speech are having a hard time pushing back against the Cancel Culture these days. Aided by social media behemoths like Google and Twitter, the Cancel Culture has become the new way to keep certain voices from being heard in the public square. In all its vagaries and impulses, it is essentially an alternative religion. It stands up as the voice of objective morality and truth but is itself subject to the political winds of group think. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Dr. Jeff Meyers, president of Summit Ministries, talks about how he works with 16-to-25-year old's, teaching them to live out their lives in defense of a biblical world view. The bottom line for him, is that the Cancel Culture is not just differences of opinions in a heated clash, no, this spirit of evil says emphatically, "You don't have a right to think that way if it offends me. Therefore, your voice must be silenced. It must not be heard." And Meyer says, although the Cancel Culture is known to go after many different positions, religious voices are the most maligned and most attacked. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Around the world, millions of Christians are celebrating the birth of Jesus this Christmas. It's a time of light shining in a darkened world, of a star, of a tiny baby swaddled in a manger, and of a promise of hope that the world will become a better place. In this Fox News Radio Christmas special, Chief Religion Correspondent Lauren Green takes you on a slightly different journey of Christmas in order to look at the origin stories of some of the holiday's most beloved traditions. The Christmas story itself and its beginnings in the first book of the Bible, Genesis, for instance. Also our tradition of Christmas Trees, Santa Claus, The Star of Bethlehem, carols and singing... What started them? Plus, a look at the faith foundations of Charles Dickens' classic story, 'A Christmas Carol.' It is a special that will captivate and inform, and will help you celebrate the true meaning of Christmas, with Rev. Cheryl Kincaid, theologian Tim Keller, best-selling author William Federer, and director of I.S.M.I.L.E. New York Renae Baker. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
There's plenty of snowmen, candy canes and elves to go around to help celebrate Christmas. But this year that's been darkened by a pandemic, there's a greater need to dive deeper into the true meaning of Christmas; to know that Light truly has come into the world. And we're not talking about vague hopes for peace on Earth or joy filled greetings. It's about the truth of Immanuel, "God with us," and what that actually means. Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus. As one pastor put it, Jesus didn't come to give us good advice, to show us the way to God. His being born was "Good News," of what has happened, that God has come to us. It is the sign that the Creator of the universe, who is outside of time and outside of space, wrote himself into the story of humanity, becoming 'one of us', in order to save us. On this Episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Dr. Jim Denison, founder of The Denison Forum, talks about Christmas during hard times. That, "Even amidst the pain and tragedies of the pandemic and the uncertainties of our political future, the essential truth of Christmas remains unchanged. Jesus is still Immanuel, 'God with us.'" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
For centuries, both the faithful and science-based folks have wondered about the Star of Bethlehem. What was it? From where did it come? Is it a myth, a miracle, or was it natural occurring astronomical event? The Star, as told in the Gospel of Matthew, led the Magi to a little town called Bethlehem, about five miles south of Jerusalem. It was a sign in the heavens that told them a King was born, a King that would be in the line and lineage of King David. Many astronomers believed it was a conjunction of planets. German scientist Johannes Kepler believed it was the conjunction of three planets, Jupiter, Saturn and Venus. But while astronomers today use Kepler's exact mathematical calculations to map the motion of the planets, lawyer and Star enthusiast Rick Larson has taken it many steps further, and has found the link between the Bible's prophecies, the motion of the planets, and the signs in the sky. The heavens do indeed "declare the glory of God," as Psalm 19 announces. In this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Larson gives a synopses of his findings, which are in his film Star of Bethlehem, and his website bethlehemstar.com, which gives even more details of tying God's message to us, to the motion of the planets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"Is suffering the price we pay for loving?" It's a question author Amy Orr-Ewing explored from personal grief, as she tried to understand, "Why, if there's a loving God, would we experience misery and misfortune? Are love and pain forever woven together in an eternal fabric?" Ewing says, that when believers in God go through pain and suffering it causes them to doubt that God really loves them, that God cares. The question is, "How could God let this happen?" Many people are asking that question today in the midst of a pandemic that has taken millions of lives. Ewing is the President of Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics, and is the author of, "Where is God in all the suffering?" She wrote the book after a close friend, a young mother of three, died of the coronavirus. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Ewing explains that hardship is not an interruption, but a reality in life; and that we only have two choices in how to react to it; we can either run away from God, or towards God. She contends that only a loving God can make sense of the suffering and the brokenness in this world. She says, "It's only with love as part of our mindset that we actually even really ask the question at all, 'how can this be happening?' The question itself actually points us towards God, not away from him." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It's not about reinventing yourself, because you already have within you all the gifts and talents you need. What you need is faith to develop them, nurture them, and watch them grow. That is the message of Kathie Lee Gifford: talk show host, singer, composer, actress, author, and theologian. She is a one-woman whirlwind of possibilities and accomplishments. But it's her life-long faith in Jesus Christ that stands out as the real fuel igniting her boundless energy. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, the iconic, Kathie Lee talks about her just-released book, "It's Never Too Late," and the next phase of her life: after Regis, after Frank, after NBC and so on. Now living in Nashville, she reflects on the great times in her life and also the moments of darkness, but the light is always with her. And she has advice on how even when life seems over, you can begin again and thrive! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Christian Church is built on the foundation of forgiveness; of Jesus Christ's death on the Cross to atone for the world's sins. Yet many Christians are not really schooled in the mechanics of forgiveness. It is quite vital not only for health and mental stability, but also as a tenet of the faith. It is the Lord's Prayer that asks God, "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those..." While we say the prayer often, we still harbor un-forgiveness to those who have hurt us, maligned us, divorced us, the list is seemingly endless. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, best-selling author and President of Proverbs 31 Ministries, Lysa Terkeurst talks about her new book, "Forgiving What You Can't Forget," just in time for Holiday gatherings and the old family conflicts that may flare up. Lysa speaks from experience. Hurt by her husband's infidelity, she had to learn what it really meant to forgive. She answers the questions, "What do you do about the people who never say they are sorry?" and, "Is there anything that is unforgiveable?" Lysa helps people understand that "Forgiveness is more satisfying than revenge," and that "Your offender is also suffering from pain." It is time to be grateful for the power to Forgive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
He used to hustle his way through life. Had his first drink at 8 years of age and it was downhill from there for the next decade and a half. Jim Wahlberg is not nearly as famous as his actor brothers, Mark Wahlberg (Boogie Nights, Deepwater Horizon) and Donnie Wahlberg (Blue Bloods), but he is just as driven. And his zeal has taken him from the very depths of life's darkest moments in jail, to the heights of the light of faith. The Boston native is one of nine children of an Irish Catholic family; but didn't know what real faith in Jesus Christ meant until he met a priest while in prison. Jim thought he could con the priest, turns out the priest conned him. In this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Wahlberg talks about his new book, "The Big Hustle," and his path from drugs and jail to his work now as a filmmaker, writing and producing short films about drug addiction and how faith in God is truly the only way to a drug-free life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Theodore McCarrick was one of the most powerful priests in American Catholicism, rising to the rank of Cardinal and Archbishop of Washington, D.C. But now in the wake of the Vatican's two-year investigation into his sexual abuse of minors and vulnerable Seminarians, it's clear that this darling of the Church was really a demon. He was a 'predator and pathological liar", to quote eminent scholar George Weigel. But what's also clear from the report, is that McCarrick did not rise in a vacuum. He had help, unwitting partners in his quest for prestige and position. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Dr. Matthew Bunson, executive editor or EWTN News, dissects the Vatican report and unravels the painful truths about how McCarrick's charm and good nature, masked a more sinister, and really sinful part of his personality. But now that McCarrick's deadly deeds have been exposed, what now for the Catholic Church? How do bishops move forward? Bunson breaks it all down, as well as wraps up a post-election analysis on the second Catholic ever elected President of the United States; but one who is advancing agendas that are against Church teachings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
You might call him the Billy Graham of the Catholic world. Fr. Patrick Peyton coined the phrase, "The family that prays together, stays together;" a dynamic message that energized Catholics and other Christians in the mid 20th Century. Fr. Peyton drew tens of thousands to his prayer crusades around the globe. Hollywood also, believe it or not, bowed to his calling. His radio show guest lineup was A listers of Tinsel Town's elite like Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and Joan Crawford. It's certainly not bad for a poor, uneducated Irish immigrant who began life in America working as a janitor at a Cathedral in Pennsylvania. Fr. Peyton experienced his own miraculous healing from Tuberculosis, through the power of prayer to the Lady of the Rosary. It ignited in him a passion for prayer and its power to heal the wounds of a person and a nation. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Fr. David Guffey will talk about this charismatic figure and the new documentary film he produced called, "Pray: The Story of Fr. Patrick Peyton." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Halloween is one of the most fun childhood events; dressing up and trick-or-treating is a yearly ritual. But lost in the festivities is the possibility of real evil, real ghosts and yes, even real demon possession and infestations. Billy Hallowell takes a modern look at all three in his book, "Playing with Fire." On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Hallowell talks about the real-life demon possession of a teenage boy in 1949 that was the inspiration behind the 1973 movie "The Exorcist," as well as more recent accounts of possessions and exorcisms. While all of it is spine tingling and alarming, what should give us hope and strength is what the Bible has to say about spiritual evil and how it is to be dealt with. Hallowell says modern people may scoff at religion, but still believe in ghosts and the paranormal. And certainly, Hollywood is cashing in on our obsession with the occult. But the Scriptures never take such beliefs lightly and warns about assigning the devil too much power, or too little. In the end, the solution is to "Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On November 11th, 1620 Christian Pilgrims from Europe landed on Plymouth Rock. They were fleeing religious persecution and the tyranny of "might is right." They believed in the hope of self-government and the freedom to worship as they saw fit. It was outlandish and without precedent. The DNA of the freedoms we enjoy in America today, was conceived by those 102 souls tired of political/religious wars where the victor dictated how the victimized would serve their God. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Historian William Federer charts the prequel of the Pilgrims voyage on the Mayflower; the Protestant Reformation, King Henry VIII decreeing himself head of the Christian Church in England, the conquests of Islam and the Ottoman Turks, and the treaties and alliances forged to gain economic control and/or thwart an invasion. All of these parts of history coalesced paving the way for those handful of settlers to seek new land; finding it and forging new friendships with the Natives that would help them survive the harsh conditions. Then as it is today, the choice for Christians was greed versus the Gospel. They fled greed and brought a more just understanding of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the New World, where it flourishes. Whether or not it continues to flourish may depend on its citizens not forgetting the past. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"Has America reached its expiration date?" That is a question Dr. Alex McFarland asks in his new book, "The Assault on America: How to Defend Our Nation Before It's Too Late." It's an alarm, and it's coming from someone who normally isn't prone to sounding them. McFarland is a genteel Southerner; a theologian, historian, national speaker, Radio host, and founder of Truth for A New Generation. He's traveled the country extensively and sees disturbing trends assaulting America's foundational values, the first of which is belief in God and adherence to God's laws. McFarland is no prude. He came to faith after many years of youthful indulgence in booze and music, culminating in a drunken stupor and waking up in a dumpster. He speaks from whence he knows and lends his experiential knowledge to young people on campuses all over America, understanding the pressures they face and the indoctrination they have been subject to in public institutions. But now those students of liberalism are adults working in the world, voting, becoming elected officials, and America is changing because of it. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, McFarland talks about how life is a privilege, that the family is foundational to a strong America, and fealty to a loving God essential. He also talks about Article VI of the Constitution that says there should be no 'religious test' to hold office. Alex emphatically asserts that, "objective morality is not the same thing as religion." Because, "the founders of the country and the thinkers from which they drew believed in something called natural law." Self-evident truths that he says America has forgotten. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This is the second of two podcasts on the Catholic Vote. The phrase "So goes the Catholic, so goes the election" has been tried and true for the last few decades. Since 1972 Catholics have picked the winner of the presidential election all but one time. The Catholic Vote Part I featured Brian Burch, President of Catholicvote.org, an organization working to re-elect Donald Trump. Part II's featured guest is John Carr, director of the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life at Georgetown University. Even though Carr is pro-life he is supporting the Democratic nominee and former Vice President, Joe Biden for reasons that are much more nuanced than most would expect. He expressed that view on a story I did about the Catholic Vote for Fox News Channel's Special Report that aired October 2nd. As a consequence, he was lambasted with hate mail and phone calls. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, we talk about the reaction to his views and how they are examples of the divisiveness rampant in the country today. You may not agree with Carr's view, but like Arthur Brooks said at this year's National Prayer Breakfast, I will defend his right to say it. The discussion about respectful debate and discourse dovetails nicely into Pope Francis' newest encyclical, Fratelli Tutti (All Brothers). We are all part of the human race; we are all made in the image of God and as such deserve to be treated with dignity. This is a lesson for both sides of the political aisle. It's not a question of whether we're a Republican or Democrat, but whether we see God's hand at work in us all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The phrase "So goes the Catholic, so goes the election" has been tried and true for the last few decades. Since 1976 Catholics have picked the winner of the presidential election all but one time. But this election has been hard to read. Experts will tell you, Catholics are not a monolithic. They are White, Hispanic, Black and Brown; Poor, wealthy, and middle class; all ages and sizes; and various intensities of beliefs in the faith's core values. Also, Catholics are not prone to voting for a Catholic just because he or she is Catholic. That could be bad news for Joe Biden. But Catholics are also very concerned about racism, care for the poor and the immigrant, and the perceived character of their leaders. That could be bad for Donald Trump. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Brian Burch, founder of CatholicVote.org will explain why he's campaigning to make sure President Trump gets a second term, and why he sees a Biden presidency as an existential threat to all that is dear to people of faith but particularly Catholics. This is Part One of a two-part podcast. Next week Part Two will continue with a pro-Biden Catholic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The new accord recently signed between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain is a glimmer of light at the end of a long tunnel toward peace in the Middle East. Since the partition in 1948 which created the modern Jewish state, Israel has been in bloody conflict with its Muslim majority neighbors. But the irony of this new relationship between these more moderate Muslim countries, is that it comes at a time when Israel is seeing increased conflict within its borders, between Ultra-Orthodox Jews and secular or non-orthodox Jews. In this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Journalist and author Paul Alster expands on his Op-ed in Foxnews.com, which puts the new "peace deal" in perspective, seeing the odd reality that the country is fragile, not because of the forces from outside but from within. Religious freedom is always a delicate balance between personal autonomy and offensive actions, as the forces of human nature and sin often direct it towards unintended goals. There are those calling for the Jewish State to adopt a U.S. Constitution separating Church and State. But the forces against are gaining in numbers for the sheer mathematical fact that they -Ultra-Orthodox- beget more children, as many as ten children per family is not uncommon. Alster says by 2050 Israel's population is expected to grow by 66 percent. This fact provides the backdrop and the jumping off point for his novel, "Kin and Country," which predicts a possible outcome of the current clash, and how it could culminate in 2048 as Israel celebrates its centenary. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Believing in the power of prayer means believing that America can be saved from the many sins that plague her and divide her; past, present, and future. The Pilgrims who first stepped onto the soil of the New World 400 years ago were faithful that God had brought them safe from England across treacherous waters and their only task was to glorify Him as they journeyed forth seeking the freedom to worship and live out their faith. Such is the spiritual roots of America. But many today, like Times Square Church Pastor Carter Conlon, believe America has drifted far from her original purpose, as well as her fealty to an Almighty that has blessed this land with abundance. So, Pastor Conlon is returning to Plymouth, Massachusetts, to where those pilgrims first prayed for guidance, to offer prayers once again to God, to have mercy on us and heal our wounded and divided land. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast Pastor Conlon talks about the Divine revelation that lead him to call for this Worldwide Prayer Meeting on October 6, 2020, and why he believes the coincidence that brought him first to Plymouth was nothing short of a miracle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this nineteenth year since terrorists attacked America, the nation is reeling from another form of evil called the Coronavirus. Christina Stanton is a living, breathing embodiment of surviving both. She survived the yellow dust that engulfed her and her husband while running from the collapsing twin towers, and in the process grew in faith and learned to trust in God. She built a foundation on which she would face yet another evil, COVID-19, and more than two weeks in the ICU. Nearly a generation separates the two catastrophes, but Stanton sees her pain and suffering as a gift. Yes, a gift. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Stanton, an author and speaker, reflects on the faith that came about only because of 9/11, and how it confirms to her that God will make good come out of whatever evil comes our way. Now with lingering health issues from both events, Stanton writes of God in an op-ed saying, "...through these experiences, I discovered that while we can’t escape suffering, there is comfort and hope in his presence in the midst of pain, God can use suffering to accomplish good, and we can trust in our sovereign God." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In 1917 three children from the village of Fatima in Portugal, witnessed what they said was a visitation of the Virgin Mary. The story of nine-year-old Lucia and her two younger cousins, Francisco, 7, and Jacinta, 6, has been the subject of intense investigations by the Catholic Church, faith-driven historians, and curious skeptics. The children were believed to have had the visitation once a month for several months culminating in the Miracle of the Sun witnessed by thousands in October of 1917. But before that, the apparition prophesied to the children about the coming end of World War I, of future wars and events, and even perhaps the attempt on the life of Pope John Paul II. The 1952 movie, The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima, came out just a few years after Pope Pius XII venerated the image enshrined at the chapel of the Apparitions of Fatima. Just last week, a new film version was released. It's called simply, Fatima. Rose Ganguzza, of Rose Pictures, is the film's producer. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Ganguzza, a veteran filmmaker, explains how this film is made for 21st Century audiences; ones who have the perspective of hindsight, unlike the earlier version. The film begins with a scholarly figure played by Harvey Keitel, who goes to the cloistered order where an elderly Sister Lucia lives. He questions her about the actual events to see if she still believes in the veracity of what she saw as a child. The film then is a series of flashbacks to 1917 to Lucia as a child, the challenges to religious believers who face a crossroad between a comfortable faith, and one that demands sacrifice. Listen to Ganguzza talk about the actors who played the parts, why she made the film, and why this new version leaves out documented traumatic events the children encountered. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
If there's one thing Phil Robertson isn't shy about, it's telling people about Jesus, and that they need Jesus; that we all do. Robertson's new book, "Jesus Politics: How to Win Back the Soul of America," is a candid and blunt take on where the country has come from and where it's headed. The "Duck Dynasty" star chastises his own generation of some 60 years back, that took prayer out of the schools, took God out of public discourse and relegated Jesus to the corner of 'a nice teacher of love,' instead of Divine, Creator of the universe. We're only a few weeks away from the general election in which both presidential candidates declare they are out to win the soul of America. But to Robertson, that's an evil claim, for there is only One Being that has a right to assert ownership over the human soul. On this episode of "Lighthouse Faith" podcast, listen to Robertson boldly assert, who is "The way, the Truth, and the Life." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The recent deaths of Rep. John Lewis and Herman Cain represents something larger than the loss of two prominent Black politicians, although that is significant. The two men represent diverging paths of the Black vote. Lewis a Democrat, Cain a Republican. Both men are sons of the South and faithful believers in Jesus Christ; benefiting from the political power wielded by the Black Church, which historically favored the Democratic party. But in 2020, African Americans are benefitting from the hard-fought Civil Rights battles of the generations before, that of Lewis's and Cain's. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Dr. Tony Evans, author, radio and TV broadcaster and megachurch pastor, reflects on the roles these two men have played in several years of politics and civil discourse. But looking forward, Evans is also a prominent voice for "Our Church Votes," a movement aimed at Evangelical churches to register members to vote their biblical values; to know the issues and each party's platform. Evans wants Christians to know that, "God created government. So, if you leave God out of government, not only does it demean God's name, it demeans God's policies. And that will always lead to chaos." And that, he says, is what appears to be happening in our world today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
A Father's role in today's culture has been more or less sidelined at worst, or undefined at best. But Author Tyler Rowley says a Father's faith is critical to a child developing his or her own faith. A father's faith that is lived out not just in words but in deeds in everyday life, has a tremendous impact on his children. Even when a mother's faith in Jesus is strong, if the father's faith is weak or non-existent, the child will drift from the faith. In his book "Because of Our Fathers," Rowley has collected the testimonies of 23 devoted Catholics who draw a straight line from their faith to that of their fathers; like St. John Paul II, the first Polish pope, who as a young boy, watched his widowed father on his knees in prayer daily; or John Castillo, whose son lost his life confronting two shooters at his high school. His faith strong because of not only his father's but his grandfather's faith. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith, we shine a light on the power and purpose of father's with strong faith. We also look at what happens when a father has no faith, and the sometimes tragic results that follow for the lives of his children. Father's have a crucial role in rearing children. Rowley wants them to know they must take their stand and be defenders of the faith. Their children's lives depend on it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Michelle Kim appears to be a normal, twenty-something year old, first generation American, living the American dream in California. But over the last few months the dream is starting to become a nightmare because of her membership in the Shincheonji Church of Jesus. The church has been labeled a cult, accused of brainwashing its members into submission, and claim its founder called himself Jesus. The church, with its 300,000 members, is based in South Korea but has branches in 20 countries including the United States. Kim attends the church in California where she was born. The South Korean church became the focus of the government's blame for the Coronavirus spreading in the country. "Patient number 31," as the 61-year-old woman is called, was a member in the Daegu branch. In mid-February she was diagnosed with COVID-19, a diagnosis made after she attended services. She thought she had a cold, but it turned out to be the deadly virus. It spread to 4,000 members. The government demanded the church hand over its list of members, including those outside of South Korea. According to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, "The government of Seoul locked down Shincheonji churches in the capital, and some mainline Protestant groups have accused the church of deliberately spreading the disease." On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Michelle Kim tells her side of the Shincheonji controversy, and how being a member has made her fear that once people know her church association, she could be ostracized, lose friends, or worse yet, her job. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"God is eternal," and everything else is temporary. That includes the Coronavirus, loss of jobs, relationships, even our homes. None of us want to be tested in losing those vitally important things in our lives. But the Bible assures us that putting our faith in God will help us navigate those stormy waters and come out stronger and better for it. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Dr. David Jeremiah, author and founder of Turning point, an international Christian ministry, talks about his heartfelt thoughts on "Sheltering in God," a book he was compelled to write as the world grapples with the COVID-19 shutdown, and millions of people dealt with (and are still dealing with) the loss of so many routine activities. Dr. Jeremiah says that although he can't explain why God has allowed a pandemic to wreak havoc throughout the globe, he does remind us of what God has done; that the Bible is filled with God's victories over difficult times. And ultimately, that the "Battle belongs to the Lord." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
One of the hardest lessons in the Bible we face is the reality that we are all sinners and "fall short of the glory of God." Intellectually we get it; praise it, and preach it. But if we all know it's true, then why is there a Black Lives Matter movement? Why is it necessary? Why is it so hard to see someone of a different race as fellow image bearers? It's because all of us are prone to sins we aren't event aware of or even recognize as sin; it's the "crouching tiger," concealed from even our peripheral vision. And one of the biggest sins that remains hidden to us as bot individuals and as a society is racism. The political phrase today is "systemic racism," but that doesn't begin to explain its origins. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Dr. Jim Denison, author, biblical scholar, pastor and founder of the online platform "The Denison Forum," talks about the Bible and racism, and how Jesus's teachings, if we really take them to heart, would end this scourge that has become a gaping wound in America's soul. Both Dr. Denison and I reveal personal experiences about racial encounters we've both had, and how some have been scarring while others have brought healing. We both agree that the Gospel is the only source of wisdom for a world battling this sin of the heart. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Musician, Broadcaster, radio host, Journalist; John Tesh has a long list of accolades and accomplishments. He became a household name as co-host of the television show "Entertainment Tonight" for a decade starting in the mid-80's. His classic good looks; tall, blond hair, blue eyes and affable personality plus that velvety voice gave him staying power in an industry that is fickle at best. But while his career seemed heaven-sent, underneath all his successes loomed a host of failures, missteps and doubts. His faith at first nominal, grew over the years with the help of his wife, actress Connie Sellecca. But in recent years bloomed with intensity as he faced the greatest challenge of his life, cancer. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Tesh talks about his life of struggles and triumphs, and his victory over one of the most dreaded diseases, which he recounts in his book, Relentless: Unleashing a Life of Purpose, Grit and Faith. Tesh is a shining example of how God's power works with us, through us, and for us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Faith begins in the home. It's a legacy that Yael Eckstein, a young Jewish mother, believes is essential to moving forward in life. It's her father's faith that lives through her today. That father, the late Rabbi Yachiel Eckstein, began a legacy of bringing Jews and Christians together, not in spite of their faith, but because of it. Rabbi Eckstein was the founder of The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, "the largest charitable organization helping Israel and the Jewish people." He understood that the two (of three) Abrahamic branches, are bound together inextricably through their Holy books, the Hebrew Scriptures. What Christians call the Old Testament, Jews call the Torah and the Tanach. Now Yael has taken over the IFCJ after her father's untimely death more than a year ago. But she says, only because her father taught her his faith in both words and deeds, could she be prepared to take the reigns of an international organization at such a young age. On this episode of the Lighthouse Faith podcast, Yael talks about how the faith of her father lives in her only because it lived in him first. That may sound simple, but Yael says giving children a faith foundation on which to build their lives, is the most important task of parenting. Yael writes about the importance of passing on one's faith to the next generation in her book, "Generation to Generation: Passing on Our Faith to Our Children." It is not just a 'how-to' book, but a mea culpa of her own grief at losing her mentor and best friend, and then moving forward with a new foundation of faith that had been slowly, over time, grafted onto his. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
For a lot of people, myself included, the sum total of what they knew about Alexander Hamilton was that he was the face on the ten-dollar bill. That is until his life as one of America's Founding Fathers, and the first U.S. Treasury Secretary, was made into a Tony Award-winning musical called Hamilton, that many people who've seen it call a religious experience. Written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, who also stars as Hamilton, it is a rap and hip-hop retelling of Hamilton's legacy as one of the architects of the U.S. Constitution; his beginnings as a poor orphan in the Caribbean, to his meteoric rise to political power; his nearly equally fast plunge to political pariah and his tragic untimely death in a duel with a political rival. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Kansas Pastor Kevin Cloud talks about the 'religious experience' audiences are feeling watching the show. He was so moved by its spiritual power of grace, forgiveness and mercy that he wrote a book about it called, "God And Hamilton: Spiritual Themes From the Life of Alexander Hamilton and the Broadway Musical He Inspired." For five years Hamilton has been the hottest ticket on Broadway. It's been sold out for months even before the COVID-19 pandemic forced the lights to go dark on the Great White Way. However, just in time for the Fourth of July, Disney will stream the show on July 3rd with the original cast. Listen to the podcast, then watch the show. Happy Birthday America! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
You can either be comforted by the biblical prophecies that Jonathan Cahn writes and speaks about, or you could become extremely fearful. Lately there has been an almost laser focus on whether the Coronavirus is a sign that the end of the world is near. Cahn is world known as a "pastor and rabbi," who "caused an international stir with the release of his first book "The Harbinger," which became an instant New York Times best seller. He has written several books since and each one takes modern events and weaves them into divine providence. He is called the prophetic voice of this generation, known "for opening the deep mysteries of Scripture." In this episode of Lighthouse Faith Podcast, Cahn divulges whether the COVID-19 pandemic was predicted in the Bible, and whether it is God's judgment on a sinful world. That being said, there is a growing movement that believes our problems in the world are caused by us turning away from God, and Cahn is part of that movement that is now organized to convince people to Return to God. The Return, as its called, is a national and global movement to give us quote, "chance to humble ourselves before the Lord," and will culminate in ten days of prayer in September and a gathering on the Washington Mall on September 26th. It is based on the Old Testament Scripture that says, "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The man at the forefront of finding a vaccine for the COVID-19 pandemic, is man of science AND faith. Dr. Francis Collins is the head of the National Institutes of Health which is racing to develop treatment options and a vaccine for the Coronavirus. He is also this year's winner of the prestigious Templeton Prize, awarded to those making great strides in the area of science and faith. And Collins is in fact a walking embodiment that faith and science are a good team. He says while science has the tools to be able to dissect and observe the working of a cell or the age of the universe, it is not so good at answering questions that start with "why?" like "why am I here?" Dr. Collins is the author of several books including the best-seller "The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for God. (2006)" He also led the team of the National Genome Project, that 20 years ago mapped out the human genetic code, a 3 billion letter DNA sequence living in each human cell. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Collins talks about the urgency of finding a vaccine for the Coronavirus, as a second wave of cases emerge and spike. But Collins has good news. He says, "We now have a number of those [vaccines] that look pretty promising" in early phase one trials with a small number of people, and "we're ready to start in July, the large scale trials to find out whether these really are protective and safe." And he says he would like to offer people hope about the pandemic: "God is still in charge. And we're going to get through this." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The protests and riots following the killing of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer have made many people question, why is it we have a hard time getting along with people who are different from ourselves? What is the driving force behind the conflicts we've seen these last few weeks? Theologians will say that at the root of all our problems is sin. But surely there's more to it than that. Nearly 30 years ago Dr. Miroslav Volf wrote a book that explored the vagaries of our mistrust and malevolent actions towards our fellow human beings. The book is called "Exclusion & Embrace: A Theological Exploration of Identity, Otherness, and Reconciliation." It could have been written about what's happened today, but he wrote it for himself following the Croatian War in the 1990's, and the violence, destruction and killing that occurred between people who were once neighbors. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Volf, the Director of the Yale Center for Faith & Culture, explains how the book came about; that he was asked after a lecture he gave if he could forgive the soldiers who murdered and destroyed his community. He answered truthfully that his faith said, "I must," but that his heart said, "I can't." This is our dilemma today. While civil authorities work to create new laws to try to restore a semblance of order and protect citizens from rogue cops and systemic injustices, people like Dr. Volf are calling for us to find a path to reconciliation, a path that begins with all of us seeing first how our own identities can unknowingly exclude people we are called to love, and embrace.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We've not eradicated "Sin". It's very much still with us; events of the past couple of weeks should make that obvious. But the problem is to not recognize sin's destructive powers is the reason we're in this mess. It was sin that compelled a white Minneapolis Police officer to brutally restrain an African American man, killing him. It was sin that compelled protesters to morph into an angry mob bent on looting and destroying. It is a sin to not see that all life is valuable and sacred, that all of us are made in God's image. Sin is a disease common to all of humanity from the beginning time, and yet, while we tend to see it in others we rarely see in ourselves. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Sam Rohrer, head of the American Pastors Network, expands on his OpEd, "In The Absence of Moral Restraint, Sin Begets Sin." In today's modern, technology-heavy world, sin is rarely talked about, it's even laughed at. Yet there's no better way to explain the evil of what has unfolded in America and around the world. Sin isn't just breaking the rules, although it is that. It is putting ourselves in the place of God; of believing we have the right to determine right or wrong for ourselves instead of acknowledging an objective standard of right and wrong, of justice and morality existing outside of each individual. Laws can only do so much. It may give you the absence of violence but not necessarily the presence of peace. Moral restraint comes from fealty to a Higher Calling. Sin isn't just breaking God's commandments, it's breaking God's heart. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Last week, the world lost one of the greatest theological minds, Ravi Zacharias, after a battle with cancer. In Ravi's last Lighthouse Faith interview from June of 2019, he talks about his book, "The Logic of God." In so many ways this title typifies how Ravi defended the Christian faith. He based his beliefs in revelation, but also on reason and knowledge, taking on the most difficult questions because he knew that behind each question was a questioner seeking to understand the world and its meaning. His goal was not to win an argument, but to draw people to the saving grace of Jesus Christ. This podcast is a tribute to Ravi.
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Listening to Ravi Zacharias will make you see a whole different way of looking at faith. First and foremost he helps people understand that everyone, even an atheist, has faith. Ravi is the founder of the international ministry, RZIM. His latest book, The Logic of God, is a 52 week devotional that asks the question, "is it logical to even believe in God?" And then he answers it by revealing what is in us, who are made in God's image. Ravi points out that while there is a coherence to God, that there are no contradictions in Him, there is plenty of contradiction in us. And there lies the quandary for humanity. Ravi challenges people of all different faiths on what they actually believe. To me he was one of those people who is wickedly ( in a good way) smart. In a room full of great minds, Ravi could be considered today, the greatest among equals. He understands humanity through science, sociology, psychology, physiology, and just about any other -ology you can name. Can we live without God? It's not about whether God exists, but rather to what do we look to find our purpose and meaning in life.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It was a clash of cultures, bound to cause friction despite the overarching need to save lives. Samaritan's Purse set up a field hospital in New York City's iconic Central Park to help treat victims of the coronavirus. It was the first time the humanitarian aid organization set up one of its field hospitals on the U.S. mainland. You got the feeling that any other aid organization would have been heralded as heroic. But because Samaritan's Purse is run by the very conservative Rev. Franklin Graham, the son of evangelist Billy Graham, its presence in one of the most liberal cities in the country and the world, was for the most part just tolerated. The governor of the state refused to waive state taxes for the medical staff's meager salaries. There were protests from civil rights groups. And the City Commission on Human Rights launched an investigation to make sure all people were treated equally; spurred by the fact that the Christian-run organization requires all its staff operate on biblical principles. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Rev. Graham speaks to the controversy, and answers his critics.
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A very wise woman once said, "You can become bitter or better from the things that happen to you." It's your choice. Pastor Keion Henderson chose the latter. His dreams of an NBA contract were snapped in a few seconds during a college basketball game after a career ending injury. At age 11 he learned that the man who fathered him turned out to to be a respected Pastor of the church he attended. He was raised by a single mother who worked at Taco Bell for $7 an hour. These are not the tools of success, and many times become an arsenal of anger. And yet, Keion has made the proverbial lemonade out of lemons. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Pastor Henderson, founder of the ten thousand member Lighthouse Church in Houston, TX talks about the cathartic process of writing his new book "The Shift," about the unexpected shifts and interruptions in our life. It's a book that took more than a decade to write. In that tome, Henderson vents all of his pent up adolescent anger saying, "I tried to figure out where in the world do you put this pain?" But by God's grace he grew to become the man his father could not be, and also the Pastor his father should have been. Henderson says, "To resolve our problems and deal with our mistakes, we must be willing to be transformed by God’s process of healing and strengthening. The beauty of a gracious and merciful God is that He will use our mistakes as an opportunity to help us unlearn some bad behaviors, gain some new insights, and shift us into our destiny." Henderson's mentor is the well known Bishop T.D. Jakes, and like Jakes, he educates his flock on how to be fiscally successful as well as spiritually faithful. His book and words are for anyone who's felt sidelined or hurt by life's left turns and unexpected challenges.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Combining End Times biblical prophecy and current events is a precarious endeavor. But Dr. Mark Hitchcock has been reading the biblical tea leaves for decades now and written thirty books on the subject. He will tell you that coming up with precise dates and times of the Last Days and Jesus's return, is not only irresponsible, it is not even accurate. Jesus Himself said no one "but the Father knows." Still, one of the looming questions for many people around the world is whether or not the Coronavirus pandemic is a sign the end is near. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Hitchcock, a pastor and professor at Dallas Theological Seminary, explains how the Covid-19 pandemic fits into the Bible's prophecies, or whether it does at all. He'll explain the difference between The Rapture, The Tribulation, and what are the key verses in the Bible that prophecy what God has in store for His creation. All of it is explored as well in his latest book, "Corona Crisis: Plagues, Pandemics, and the Coming Apocalypse." It is getting top billing over his other timely book about the Iranian nuclear threat, "Showdown with Iran: Nuclear Iran and the Future of Israel, the Middle East, and the United States in Bible Prophecy." Both Covid-19 and Iran's nuclear ambitions present perilous warnings for us and our mindsets and beliefs about God.
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Christianity is a global religion. It is a faith for all races, languages and cultures. Yet it is viewed as a religion of the West, of Europe and America. However, its roots are in the East. And so much about its nuances of meaning are lost when the Eastern and Middle Eastern mind-set is not properly understood. So says, Abdu Murray, a former Muslim turned Christian apologist (defender), who has co-written a book with internationally renowned theologian Ravi Zacharias called, "Seeing Jesus From The East: A Fresh Look At History's Most Influential Figure." Both men were raised in Eastern cultures; Ravi in India, and Abdu in the Middle East. Both understand Jesus through the lens of their cultural heritage, which is closer in fact to the one in which Jesus lived out His ministry. For instance the East is a shame and honor culture while the West is mainly a guilty or innocent culture. The first is more communal, the second is more individualistic. What that means for how one views Scripture, the parables of Jesus, and all the beloved Bible stories, is huge! On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Abdu breaks it down and reveals realities that were hiding in plain site.
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What might be surprising to know is that viruses are essential to life. However, about 1% at most, are what's called 'pathogenic', they are harmful; they can cause everything from the common cold to the Coronavirus. So why did God make a world in which what can be so good for us, can also potentially bring our death? On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, noted Mathematician and Christian apologist Dr. John Lennox, talks about that very question. He has written a small but powerful (and timely) book, called "Where is God in a Coronavirus World?" Lennox says that things like Covid-19 are what's known as 'natural evil'. They are part of the brokenness in this natural world, like tsunamis and tornadoes. There is no human agent, as with 'moral evil'. There's no one to blame or judge. But what these natural evils force us to do is to come to terms with death; our own as well as those whom we love. But it's not just about doom and gloom. God has, and always did, have a plan for the world He created. Dr. Lennox looks to the joy and the hope that God has promised as well.
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There are two varieties of evil in this world, say Theologians. One is "moral evil", like the 9/11 terror attacks, caused by a human agent. The other is "natural evil", the kind with no human intent, but the sort of plagues like the Coronavirus existing in the world since the original fall of Creation. Christina Stanton has the unique experience of surviving them both. In this episode of Lighthouse Faith, Christina talks about her relationship with God during 9/11, and compares it to today nearly 20 years later, as she battled the Coronavirus in a Florida Hospital for seventeen days. In both cases she nearly died, but she faced them in totally different ways because of her relationship with God then, and now. She was originally a guest on the podcast last September when she released her memoirs of surviving the terror attacks, of how she and her husband fled their Lower Manhattan apartment with the clothes on their backs. Then she felt utterly alone, that she really had not known God, and did not understand the tumult he was allowing her to face. But today, as she lay in her ICU bed physically alone, she didn't feel alone. That God was with her, that His promises are real. As she says in her diary, "The name of Jesus is powerful, and I know that. I invoked that power in a way I never have in the past. I really feel God is answering all the prayers that have gone up for me and my prayers to Him."Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Western Christians have just celebrated Easter, but the Orthodox and Eastern Christians will celebrate this weekend. They're on two different calendars, but still worship the same Risen Savior, Jesus Christ. Pastor Steven Khoury lives in the Cradle of Christianity, Jerusalem and Bethlehem; The latter where Jesus was born, the former where He was crucified, buried and resurrected. The region is also the epicenter of the other two major religions; Judaism and Islam, and as such has a unique spiritual challenge to the Coronavirus pandemic. Khoury is an Arab Christian, one of a few thousand, perhaps even as much as 30,000 born again Christians living in Israel made up of Arabs, former Muslims and Jews seeking a relationship with Christ. Khoury founded and runs Holy Land Missions, in a land divided by religious and political conflict. And yet he says, all three faiths should be asking God the same question about the COVID-19 pandemic. "The question shouldn't be why? But, God, what are you trying to tell us?" And the answer is most definitely that God doesn't just want us to do right things and be good people, but to turn to Him as our foundational trust. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith, Pastor Khoury explores the spiritual impact of COVID-19 and power of faith in the land of God's promises and covenants.
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The Coronavirus shutdown of churches is now several weeks old, but the question of whether they should be shut and the controversy over the challenges to government authority in the matter persist. Dr. Russell Moore, President of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission for the Southern Baptist Convention, spoke on Lighthouse Faith podcast recently on the issue. Moore heads the public policy arm of the SBC and is urging churches to comply with government mandates on social distancing to stop the spread of the virus. But what about The Bible’s mandate to “not forsake the assembling of ourselves together.” (Hebrews 10:25)? It must also be weighed with Romans 13:1-2, “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.” It’s in navigating these two verses that Moore speaks to as well as the issue of helping churches stay financially solvent while parishioners meet virtually, even during the highest Holy Day of the Christian calendar, Easter Sunday.
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Easter is the Christian celebration of the resurrection of Jesus following his death and burial. The Bible quite clearly says in all four Gospels that Jesus died on a cross. He was crucified. (The majority of Historians have consensus on this fact well). What the Bible does not explain, is the process by which His body shut down; in other words, a medical examiner’s detailed description of cause of death. Many scientists over the years though have. Their findings usually point to asphyxiation, because the stress on the body having the arms extended and all the body weight not being supported, or another conclusion was cardiac rupture. But Dr. Joseph Bergeron believes it was something else. He explains his findings in his book, "The Crucifixion of Jesus: A Medical Doctor Examines the Death and Resurrection of Christ." In this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Dr. Bergeron talks about Jesus’s death, and also the theological background and historical context of His life, death, and resurrection; and that it should be vitally important to the entire scope of humanity. Dr. Bergeron is a doctor of faith who not only examines the "How" of Jesus' death, but the far more important question of "Why?"
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You might call the Coronavirus an expected and uninvited guest. That’s the mild version. You could also describe it as a devastating disaster striking the very heart of humanity’s trusted safeguards like the economy, for one. But Pastor Allen Jackson, Senior Pastor of World Outreach Church in Murfreesboro, Tennessee says, while we may be realizing that we’re more fragile than we thought, we should also have confidence in the fact that God is stronger and more powerful than we ever gave Him credit for. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Pastor Jackson talks about his new book "Intentional Faith," and how being proactive about reading Scripture, regularly praying, and reaching out to other friends and family will give us new encouragement and hope. And we all will discover that “we are more blessed than we ever knew.”
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