Crossmap Podcast: Recent Episodes

Edifi Podcast Network

The Crossmap Podcast features inspiring heart-to-heart conversations with Christian newsmakers of the day including authors, experts, pastors, and entertainers on topics that are good for the entire family while honoring your faith-based values.

Join Crossmap managing editor Chris Carpenter as he engages guests in thought-provoking but light-hearted banter on subjects that shape and influence our culture through the lens of faith. Gain valuable insight on how to live a meaningful Christian life and experience laughs along the way too!

The Crossmap Podcast is part of the Edifi Podcast Network

For centuries, the mightiest of theologians have been doing their best work to decipher and interpret Bible prophecies from the New Testament book of Revelation. While many have produced sound Biblical interpretation and teaching on the End Times, one can’t help but be intrigued by the shimmer of mystery that the final book of Bible provides.

For those not familiar with the Book of Revelation, commit yourselves to understanding one thing: it describes the ultimate battle of good vs. evil.

A new PureFlix streaming series dives deep into Scripture and imagines an End Times world that is filled with trials and God’s ultimate triumph. Based on a trilogy of movies called ‘Revelation Road’, ‘Revelation Road: The Series’ follows Josh McManus in the end days as he grapples with really challenging circumstances. Yet he learns to depend on God even when literal demons walk the earth.

Set in a post-apocalyptic world, ‘Revelation Road: The Series’ is an adrenaline-fueled show where Bible prophecies are being fulfilled and its characters are struggling to see God at work through the absolute worst of times.

The stars of ‘Revelation Road: The Series’ David AR White and Brian Bosworth join us on the Crossmap Podcast to talk about why this type of program can provide messages of life-affirming faith in God. Listen as they share about the decision to shoot the series in South Africa and the pivotal timing of releasing it during such turbulent times in our world.

Links to Revelation Road

Watch on PureFlix
David AR White Website
Brian Bosworth on Instagram

Links to Crossmap

Crossmap Website
Crossmap Facebook

In a roundabout way, experiencing a comedy performance can be seen as an embellished view of that comedian’s life and the world we live in as he or she sees it. Unless of course, the comedian is working on a concept piece or wading through the precepts of performance art (Think Gallagher smashing a watermelon onstage).

There is no scientific formula to what makes a great comedian. It has often been said in this unforgiving world of making people laugh, that either you have it or you don’t. Technique can be taught but the basic ability to make people scream and howl with glee is innate. When all is said and done, the best comedians are completely at ease in their ability to tell a great story with a flair for creativity and razor-sharp timing.

Comedian Jeff Allen, who became famous for the phrase “happy wife, happy life”, is in his fifth decade as a working comedian. You may have seen him on “America’s Got Talent”, “Dry Bar Comedy”, or a host of other venues like HBO, PureFlix, Comedy Central, VH-1, Showtime, on and on it goes. He has performed for our troops on aircraft carriers all across the world and is currently performing around the country as part of his 2.0 Comedy Tour.

But today, Allen will not be talking about his comedy. Sure, he will say some things along the way that will make you smile or even laugh out loud, but instead, Jeff will be sharing his journey of overcoming alcoholism and despair to finding joy in his life and his relationship with God.
In his latest book, “Are We There Yet?: My Journey from Messed Up to a Meaningful Life”, Allen shares both the good and the bad in hopes of encouraging readers along the way.

Allen joins us on the Crossmap Podcast to talk about how he discovered life’s purpose and the many lessons that can be learned by watching a gerbil. Listen as he shares how you can find focus in your life by setting achievable goals.

Links to Jeff Allen

Are We There Yet? - Book on Amazon
Jeff Allen's Website

Links to Crossmap

Crossmap Website
Crossmap Facebook

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful. I know that full well. – Psalm 139: 14-15

Furthermore, Genesis teaches us that God created humanity, male and female, in His image and likeness, leaving us with two different genders divinely separated. If we truly believe what these passages from the Old Testament say then why do we as a nation find ourselves seemingly trapped in the grip and sway of gender ideology?

Consider these startling statistics:

The Williams Institute at the UCLA Law School reports that the number of young people identifying as transgender has doubled in the last few years and that 1 out of 5 people who identify as transgender are between the ages of 13 and 17 years old.
The number of minors in America receiving a diagnosis of gender dysphoria tripled from 2017 to 2021. In total, more than 42,000 people received this diagnosis in 2021.
The hashtag #trans has registered more than 50.2 billion views, and has nearly doubled within the last year.

Christian Post journalist Brandon Showalter and Summit Ministries president Dr. Jeff Myers believe that what we face is an unprecedented coupling of post-modernist academic theory with an internet-fueled social contagion targeting vulnerable boys and girls who are struggling with their God-given sex.

In their new book, “Exposing the Gender Lie: How to Protect Children and Teens from the Transgender Industry’s False Ideology” Showalter and Dr. Myers unpack and explain transgender ideology to reveal its shocking history and its distortion of common sense ideas.

Showalter and Dr. Myers join us on the Crossmap Podcast to talk about why transgender ideology has taken the world by storm over the past decade. Listen as they share some practical ways parents can equip their child with the truth about their God-given gender and how to expose the lies that come from transgender ideology.

Download the eBook for FREE by clicking here

Links to Crossmap

Crossmap Website
Crossmap Facebook

A quick Google search of the word psychic reveals all sorts of interesting yet slightly startling information.

Within seconds your eye is drawn to all kinds of revelatory and self-proclaiming words and phrases … extrasensory perception, clairvoyance, and paranormal just to name a few. Upon closer investigation, one will find a listing for the best places to get a palm reading, tarot cards interpreted, and even a sneak peek into a world beyond our own.

If this ability to discern and identify information hidden from our normal senses sounds mysterious or even a bit evil, well, it is.
Former pyschic Jenn Nizza knows what it means to discern and confront evil. Once trapped in a world of New Age thinking and lifestyle, she was radically saved out of the occult and bondage by Jesus and Jesus Christ. But before that, Nizza was a teacher of the occult and was demonically oppressed.

Well versed on topics such as the law of attraction, past life regression, and mediumship, Nizza, at the age of 36, cried out to Jesus for the first time and became a child of God. Suddenly, the darkness that she had lived in for many years was illuminated. She quit her job and was determined to follow Jesus, wherever her life might lead.

Today, Nizza is now exposing the dark underbelly of New Age, the occult, and paranormal deceptions through her books and a podcast called “The Ex-Psychic Saved".

Nizza joins us on the Crossmap Podcast to talk about how she came to the realization that there was something better than for her out there in the form of a lasting relationship with Jesus Christ. Listen as she shares what attracts people to engage with the occult and practical tips on how to avoid it.

Links to Jenn Nizza

Ex-Psychic Saved Podcast
Jenn on Instagram
Jenn's Website

Links to Crossmap

Crossmap Website
Crossmap Facebook

For centuries, the Gospel of Jesus Christ has served as the tried and true source for deep joy and lasting peace. People have looked to the Word of God for answers to some of life’s most difficult questions and have always found reassuring answers.

But unfortunately, confidence in these sacred texts has winnowed and waned to the point where supposedly Christian teachers and influencers are now spreading ideas that are very thinly veiled by Scripture. The end result is a generation of supposed believers who don’t really know for sure what God says, what He offers, and what He desires for His children.

As a result, people are being left with a wealth of misgivings on the topics of legalism, the prosperity gospel, spiritual gifts, and twisted beliefs regarding grace, forgiveness, and ultimate truth. These false truths are distorting more and more what the Bible really teaches and intends.

In his latest book “Misled”, YouTube evangelist Allen Parr equips readers to identify and refute seven of the most common false teachings that undermine the Gospel message and lead many well-meaning Christians down a path to nowhere. He purposefully weaves together personal stories from his own life and those he has ministered to to uncover the painful consequences that come with these false teachings.

Parr joins us on the Crossmap Podcast to talk about the cultural quagmire we are living in and why more and more churches are excluding portions of the Bible to fit what society says is truth. Listen as he shares seven of the most misleading and harmful messages that run rampant through the Church today.

Links to Allen Parr

Allen Parr Website
Order Misled Book
Allen on YouTube

Links to Crossmap

Crossmap Website
Crossmap Facebook

Is it possible that behind what is taking place in America and the world lies a mystery that goes back to the gods of the ancient world…and that they now have returned?

Could it be that these gods lie behind the most pivotal events, forces, and movements taking place in our nation and around the world at this very moment? Are the gods at this very moment transforming our culture, our children, our lives, and America itself?

The Return of the Gods is the most explosive book Jonathon Cahn has ever written. It is so explosive and so revealing that no description here could do it justice. He is known for revealing the stunning mysteries, many from ancient times, that lie behind and are playing out in the events of our times. But with this book, he takes this to an entirely new level and dimension.

In The Return of the Gods, Cahn takes the reader on a journey from an ancient parable, the ancient inscriptions in Sumer, Assyria, and Babylonia that become the puzzle pieces behind what is taking place in our world to this day, specifically in America.

Does this sound intriguing? You betcha!

Cahn joins us on the Crossmap Podcast to talk about how what was happening with the gods of ancient times may be having a direct effect on our world today. Listen as he shares specifically how inscriptions from Assyria and Babylonia have essentially become puzzle pieces behind what is taking place in our world today, specifically America.

Links to Jonathan Cahn

The Return of the Gods Book
Jonathan Cahn Social Links

Links to Crossmap

Crossmap Website
Crossmap Facebook

While our nation rages on and on about a host of topics including wokeness, gender ideology, and critical race theory, we may be blinding ourselves to the most pressing issue in America … fatherlessness.

Consider these staggering statistics:

18 million kids here in the United States live without a biological, step, or adoptive father present in the home.
85 percent of youth in prison come from a fatherless home.
1 in every 3 pregnancies in a fatherless home end in abortion.
63% of youth suicide victims come from a fatherless home.

Could it be the root of all of our problems can be found in the sobering fact that so many of our children are not being exposed to a male role model early enough in life?

While everyone attempts to solve our societal ills by treating symptoms, the Church (with a Capital C) is being called to fight the issue at its roots.

Founder of The Alliance for Ending the Fatherless Epidemic, Eric Swithin, believes the solution to curing the epidemic is not to outsource it to the government but to mobilize the Church and wage war against the enemy decimating our homes. In his new documentary, “The Fatherless Epidemic”, Swithin points out that the 21st Century version of a widow is the single mom and the orphan is a fatherless kid. The key to erasing the fatherless epidemic? Mentorship. And that’s where the Church comes in.

Swithin joins us on the Crossmap Podcast to talk about why fatherlessness has become the most pressing issue in America. Listen as he shares how churches and ministries can come alongside fatherless children to provide the nurturing and care they need to become happy, emotionally healthy adults.

The Alliance for Ending the Fatherless Epidemic

Visit their website

Links to Crossmap

Crossmap Website
Crossmap Facebook

Oh no, not I, I will survive

Oh, as long as I know how to love, I know I'll stay alive

I've got all my life to live

And I've got all my love to give and I'll survive

I will survive, hey, hey

Sound familiar? The aforementioned song lyrics serve as the chorus for a song that has become synonymous with finding strength, perseverance, and the ability to move forward despite a past that is sometimes unforgiving.

That highly popular tune is “I Will Survive”, a song that has literally defined the career of Gloria Gaynor. The 1978 single topped Billboard’s disco and pop charts, went platinum, and won Best Disco Recording the only year the Grammy’s recognized the sub-genre.

Despite achieving global stardom for this song, Gaynor has forged a career of nearly 50 years and has subsequently delivered hit songs on the charts in four consecutive decades.

Now 79 years old, Gaynor has recently added actress to her accolade-filled resume. She currently stars in a faith-based Christmas movie from Pure Flix called “The Thursday Night Club”. It’s a film about a group of friends who listen to God’s calling to serve others in unique ways.

Gaynor joins us on the Crossmap Podcast to talk about her recent stint playing a wise doctor in the aforementioned holiday movie. Listen as she shares why it is important to listen for God’s calling, especially when His purpose is to serve others in caring and compassionate ways.

Links to Gloria Gaynor

Gloria's Website
Gloria on YouTube

Links to Crossmap

Crossmap Website
Crossmap Facebook

When I was a teenager, one of my best friends was in a horrific car wreck. With numerous life-threatening injuries, medical professionals at our local hospital didn’t think he would make it through the night. He had lost just too much blood and one of his major organs had been severely damaged.

But miraculously, he made it through the night … and then a second night, and then a third. Soon days became weeks and eventually a release from the hospital and back to normal life about a month later.

My friend was a living miracle. While many in our town pointed to medical science and precision care as the reason for his survival, his family held tightly to their belief that he survived due to the power of prayer. Nothing more, nothing less.

Author Mike Kinney has a similar story but with a twist. At 17-years-old, his truck slammed into a telephone pole and burst into flames. Moments before the flames consumed his truck, he was pulled from the twisted metal wreckage by a friend … and a mysterious stranger.

It was in this miracle that Kinney discovered the power of God’s presence and a new calling on his life. Now, he is telling his story of agony, miracles, and rebirth in his new book, “Out of the Fire: How an Angel and Stranger Intervened to Save a Life”.

Mike Kinney and my friend are living proof that God still performs miracles. And each of these guys will be the first to tell you that they would not be here without the love, support, and most importantly the prayers that delivered them from death.

Kinney joins us on the Crossmap Podcast to talk about how it was through this accident that he really discovered God’s purpose for his life. Listen as he shares how his story demonstrates how God can move one life to spread His message and love to millions of others.

Links to Crossmap

Crossmap Website
Crossmap Facebook

Millennials. A generation of individuals where everyone gets a trophy.

Beyond being the generation following Generation X and preceding Generation Z, this collection of twenty and thirty-somethings have been described as the first global generation that grew up in the Internet age. The end result is a generation of digital natives who are completely comfortable with mobile devices, social media, and living life online.

With that comes the traits of confidence and tolerance, but also a sense of entitlement and an increase in narcissism.

While these sentiments may be true on some level, do not discount the efforts of those born between the early 1980s and mid-1990s, to make this world a better place somehow, someway.

This is never more evident than a group of young adults who call themselves Sons & Daughters. Featuring the adult children and spouses of evangelists John and Lisa Bevere, this collective has dedicated their lives to helping this generation discover the adventure, freedom, and purpose found in our creator. That starts by cultivating relationships, leading in our communities, and developing the “sons and daughters" around us.

The youngest member of Sons & Daughters, Arden Bevere, joins us on the Crossmap Podcast to talk about the concept of God first and then us in relation to our current culture. Listen as he shares why in today’s selfie-obsessed world, so many people seem to be idols to self but then so unsure about who they really are. He points out there is a very simple solution to this problem and that it is closer than you think.

Links to Crossmap

Crossmap Website
Crossmap Facebook

Uncertainty. It’s a feeling that most of us have experienced at some point in time but would rather run in the other direction than be trapped in a groundswell of not knowing what to do.

Due to the global pandemic that has affected every nook and cranny of our lives the last two and a half years, many were left feeling highly uncertain. With no guarantee of an ordinary tomorrow, most, if not all of us were left to process through what this brave new world of quarantines, protective face masks, and vaccinations had to offer. Quite simply, the future looked highly uncertain.

For the Newsboys, 2020 left them with a choice. In the midst of safer-at-home orders, racial and political unrest, and a virus that left the entire world in a state of uncertainty, this musical quartet eventually arrived at a question: Where do you stand?

Answering this question meant figuring out who they were with certainty and what they believed in. The end result is a new album that is one of most thoughtfully-crafted releases of their 34 year existence.

Called “Stand: Deluxe", the new record features the lead single “Magnetic", as well as other notable tracks “Ain’t That Like Jesus" and “Blessings on Blessings".

Band members Michael Tait and Jeff Frankenstein join us on the Crossmap Podcast to talk about how in many ways COVID-19 was a positive, in that it forced them to slow down and evaluate where they had been over the last decade plus and where they wanted to go. Listen as they share why the benefit of having more time to record allowed them to craft an album with better musicianship and ultimately more meaningful lyrics.

Links to Newsboys

Website
YouTube
Instagram

Links to Crossmap

Crossmap Website
Crossmap Facebook

Uncertainty. It’s a feeling that most of us have experienced at some point in time but would rather run in the other direction than be trapped in a groundswell of not knowing what to do.

Due to the global pandemic that has affected every nook and cranny of our lives the last two and a half years, many were left feeling highly uncertain. With no guarantee of an ordinary tomorrow, most, if not all of us were left to process through what this brave new world of quarantines, protective face masks, and vaccinations had to offer. Quite simply, the future looked highly uncertain.

For the Newsboys, 2020 left them with a choice. In the midst of safer-at-home orders, racial and political unrest, and a virus that left the entire world in a state of uncertainty, this musical quartet eventually arrived at a question: Where do you stand?

Answering this question meant figuring out who they were with certainty and what they believed in. The end result is a new album that is one of most thoughtfully-crafted releases of their 34 year existence.

Called “Stand: Deluxe", the new record features the lead single “Magnetic", as well as other notable tracks “Ain’t That Like Jesus" and “Blessings on Blessings".

Band members Michael Tait and Jeff Frankenstein join us on the Crossmap Podcast to talk about how in many ways COVID-19 was a positive, in that it forced them to slow down and evaluate where they had been over the last decade plus and where they wanted to go. Listen as they share why the benefit of having more time to record allowed them to craft an album with better musicianship and ultimately more meaningful lyrics.

Links to Newsboys

Website
YouTube
Instagram

Links to Crossmap

Crossmap Website
Crossmap Facebook

If we are all being honest, we have all had a moment or two where we felt a little less than adequate in our faith.

Perhaps you were less than kind to someone in your small group. Or maybe you just flat out don’t like somebody or a situation at your church and you’re not afraid to let everyone know about it.

We know that as believers our lives are supposed to reflect Jesus. But let’s be honest, there are some days where we just don’t want to do that. We could care less about ’making our light shine.’

Does that make us a crappy Christian? Well … no.

Author and podcaster Blake Guichet believes that we all need to embrace the truth and realize that we can’t do it all perfectly and be ideal Christians. She says that through wisdom, good guidance, and plain old hope, we can move from being a “crappy" Christian to someone who develops a freer and fuller walk with Christ.

In her latest book, “Confessions of a Crappy Christian", Guichet offers an honest and transparent approach to navigating the thoughts and feelings we aren’t so sure about from our inner monologue. And she helps us discover why God cares so much about us, despite our wrinkles and warts.

Guichet joins us on the Crossmap Podcast to talk about why Christians are so burned out and unsure of where to turn for sound Biblical advice that will help them with their everyday struggles. Listen as she shares advice for those who have been hurt by the church and subsequently given up on it. Also, is there a fool-proof cure for those afflicted with being a crappy Christian? Find out and much, much more on this episode.

Links to Blake Guichet

Pre-Order "Confessions of a Crappy Christian"
Crappy Christian Podcast
Blake on Instagram
Blake on Facebook

Links to Crossmap

Crossmap Website
Crossmap Facebook

Have you ever been around someone where you thought to yourself, this person is brilliant? They just exude the ability to win you over with their wealth of knowledge in a given area, but even more engaging is that they present themselves in such a manner that you are not threatened by them in the least. It’s their winning personality that draws you in but it is their intellect that leaves you hanging on every last word they say.

Joel C. Rosenberg has developed a reputation over the years not only for his keen sense of intelligence, but for his uncanny ability to predict and create scenarios for world events before they happen. For example consider the description for his first novel, “The Last Jihad", literally published within days of the horrific events of 9/11.

Nothing has prepared Jon or Erin for the terror that lies ahead.

Terrorists hijack a jet plane and fly a kamikaze mission into an American city
Israeli commandos foil a nuclear attack but find evidence that the next targets could be Washington and New York
And suddenly the United States finds itself in a war in the Middle East over terrorism and weapons of mass destruction that forever changes the course of human history

Let’s be clear. This eerily prophetic novel predicted an attack on the U.S. and the war in Iraq . . . but was written before any of it happened.

His latest endeavor is hosting a new weekly news commentary program called The Rosenberg Report. Airing on Thursday nights at 9pm, this program offers a close-up view of current events and issues across Israel and the Middle East as he brings important insights and Biblical perspective that proves to be both informative and encouraging.

Rosenberg joins us on the Crossmap Podcast to talk about why he chose to host a television program after being the guest for more than two decades. Listen as he shares why he is so passionate about the events of the Middle East and why he has chosen to have a front row seat to watching the world unfold in regard to End Times prophecy.

Links to Joel C. Rosenberg

Joel's Website
The Last Jihad Series
The Rosenberg Report

Links to Crossmap

Crossmap Website
Crossmap Facebook

Have you ever been around someone where you thought to yourself, this person is brilliant? They just exude the ability to win you over with their wealth of knowledge in a given area, but even more engaging is that they present themselves in such a manner that you are not threatened by them in the least. It’s their winning personality that draws you in but it is their intellect that leaves you hanging on every last word they say.

Joel C. Rosenberg has developed a reputation over the years not only for his keen sense of intelligence, but for his uncanny ability to predict and create scenarios for world events before they happen. For example consider the description for his first novel, “The Last Jihad", literally published within days of the horrific events of 9/11.

Nothing has prepared Jon or Erin for the terror that lies ahead.

Terrorists hijack a jet plane and fly a kamikaze mission into an American city
Israeli commandos foil a nuclear attack but find evidence that the next targets could be Washington and New York
And suddenly the United States finds itself in a war in the Middle East over terrorism and weapons of mass destruction that forever changes the course of human history

Let’s be clear. This eerily prophetic novel predicted an attack on the U.S. and the war in Iraq . . . but was written before any of it happened.

His latest endeavor is hosting a new weekly news commentary program called The Rosenberg Report. Airing on Thursday nights at 9pm, this program offers a close-up view of current events and issues across Israel and the Middle East as he brings important insights and Biblical perspective that proves to be both informative and encouraging.

Rosenberg joins us on the Crossmap Podcast to talk about why he chose to host a television program after being the guest for more than two decades. Listen as he shares why he is so passionate about the events of the Middle East and why he has chosen to have a front row seat to watching the world unfold in regard to End Times prophecy.

Links to Joel C. Rosenberg

Joel's Website
The Last Jihad Series
The Rosenberg Report

Links to Crossmap

Crossmap Website
Crossmap Facebook

It seems like the more things change the more they stay the same.

Racially-motivated events of the 1960s that for so many decades appeared to be isolated to that era never really went away. That has never been more apparent than the last five to ten years where civil unrest has become a focal point, driven by the highly-justified Black Lives Matter movement.

With that said, any dialogue that is designed and constructed to unite rather than divide is always welcome. And a powerful and timely new biopic about a former racist firefighter-turned-pastor in the height of the 1960s Civil Right movement serves just that purpose.
The name Paul Holderfield Sr. may not be a household name but his message of racial harmony is a story that needs to be told.

A new movie called “Paul’s Promise" chronicles Holderfield’s life. In the 1950s, during the Little Rock Central High School crisis, Holderfield was a local fireman and remembers turning his back on a black man, hoping he would not recognize him. But he did. Even worse, it was his childhood best friend who approached him for a handshake. But Holderfield refused to shake his hand and ultimately turned his back on him.

Holderfield was later convicted by his actions, in an event that would change his life forever. In that unforgettable moment, he ultimately decided there and then that he would never treat a human being that way again. This led to Holderfield founding Friendly Chapel and FLAME (Feeding and Loving All Men Equally), spending the rest of his life giving back to anyone in need, especially those afflicted by racial inequality.

Actor Ryan O’Quinn, who portrays Holderfield in “Paul’s Promise”, joins us on the Crossmap Podcast to talk about whether today’s racial challenges are unique to this generation or whether they mirror what was happening during the 1960s. Listen as he shares why he is so passionate about this critical topic and how it was so important for this to be the first movie produced by his production company, Damascus Road Productions.

Links to Ryan O’Quinn

Paul's Promise - Movie Website
Ryan O'Quinn Website
Ryan on YouTube
Ryan on Facebook
Ryan on Twitter

Links to Crossmap

Crossmap Website
Crossmap Facebook

I think we have all heard the time-tested adage, “Some things just get better with age." The mind begins to run wild when you think of all the possibilities that fit this phrase:

Love
Cheddar Cheese
Self-Confidence
Cast Iron Skillets

My Guest Today
Pat Boone is a legendary American singer, composer, actor, writer, and spokesperson whose career has spanned seven decades. A number one pop singer in the U.S. during the 1950s and 1960s, he has sold more than 45 million records that includes six number one hits. Oh, did we mention that he has also appeared in more than 15 Hollywood films?

At the tender age of 88, Pat continues to act in movies. In fact, just last week he won the Best Supporting Actor award at the Canadian International Faith & Film Festival for his portrayal of the Old Coach in a movie called “The Mulligan".

But wait … there’s more! He has just published his 27th book called “If". It seems like there is nothing that will slow this man down.

Pat Boone joins us on the Crossmap Podcast to share about what golf means to him, and how the power of second chances has affected his life. Listen as he shares how God has guided his life’s journey and how that message serves as the foundation of his latest book, “If”. And if that is not enough, we will even reminisce about the night Pat introduced hard-rock pioneers Stryper at the 1986 Dove Awards!

Links to Pat Boone

YouTube
Instagram
Twitter
Facebook

Links to Crossmap

Crossmap Website
Crossmap Facebook

For those who saw this summer’s movie hit “Elvis”, one quickly realizes that the entertainer known as ‘The King of Rock and Roll’ had many demons in his life. Fame, fortune, and bad influences fueled a persona of Elvis Presley that was sometimes chaotic, drug addled, and filled with eccentricities.

But the Elvis our guest Billy Stanley knew was quite different from the one the world came to love and adore for his rich, baritone voice, provocative stage presence, and a seemingly endless string of musical hits (149 to be exact).

After his mother married Elvis’ father in 1960, Billy arrived at Graceland as a wide-eyed seven year old, not quite sure what to make of his new surroundings and a brother inlaw who was the most famous person in the world. What he found might surprise you.

From the first time he received a bear hug from Elvis to the last conversation they ever had, there was always one constant: the King of Rock and Roll had a passion for sharing God’s love with as many people as he could.

In his new book, “The Faith of Elvis: A Story Only a Brother Can Tell”, Billy walks readers through Elvis’s Christian journey – from the notes he made in his worn and well-read Bible, to an insightful look into how he wove faith into every part of his life, as well as touching family stories about the person the world and pop culture never knew.

Billy joins us on the Crossmap Podcast to share details about Elvis’ faith and beliefs about God. Listen as he shares why he thinks Elvis gave too much of himself to the world without focusing enough on his faith and family, and what the King of Rock and Roll taught him about faith that Billy still carries with him today.

Links to Bill Stanley

The Faith of Elvis: A Story Only a Brother Can Tell on Amazon

Links to Crossmap

Crossmap Website
Crossmap Facebook

None

To say the last few years of American politics has been volatile and chaotic is quite the understatement.

With mid-term elections just around the corner, and the presidential election cycle looming just beyond that, it seems voters are determined to move beyond the machinations and maneuverings of the last few years.

But before that can happen, we must find answers and put closure on some troubling developments in the Faith community. For example:

Was the relationship between evangelical Christians and Donald Trump a match made in heaven or a marriage made in hell?
Did Christian conservatives trade their reputation for a seat at the political table?
And how did Donald Trump go from unlikely presidential candidate to superhero to political savior in the eyes of his supporters?

Our guest today, Dr. Michael Brown, believes that in the last election millions of sincere Christians seemed to wrap the Gospel in the American flag so tightly that politics became a rallying point of their faith. In his latest book, “The Political Seduction of the Church”, he rejects the idea that the Church is called to take over society, and lays out a strategy for healthy political and cultural engagement.

Dr. Brown joins us on the Crossmap Podcast to share his thoughts on whether Christians should even be involved in politics and why, as a body of believers, we must do better. Listen as he shares why he thinks false prophecies were given during President Trump’s re-election campaign in 2020, and how to recognize some surefire ways that you have been politically seduced.

Links to Dr. Michael Brown

The Political Seduction of the Church - Amazon
Ask Dr. Brown Website
Dr. Michael Brown on Facebook
Dr. Michael Brown on Twitter
Dr. Michael Brown on Instagram

Links to Crossmap

Crossmap Website
Crossmap Facebook

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Slowly but surely, the world seems to be emerging from its COVID-induced fog that has been hovering over our planet for more than two and a half years. And with that comes many a company’s decision to ask their employees, who have been diligently working from home during this period, to pull the plug on their laptops and come back to the office.

But therein lies the rub … a lot of people have become quite comfortable in this brave new world of work and have no desire to come back to the office. Why? Well, beyond having the ability to work in our pajamas, grab a snack from the kitchen at a moment’s notice, or take a walk around the block at anytime, many point to the ability to avoid the conflicts, disagreements, and misunderstandings that are inevitable when you are physically rubbing elbows with your colleagues in the traditional workplace.

Our guests today, Dr. Jennifer Thomas and Dr. Paul White, have written a new book on how to make or break co-worker relationships and how to create a healthier work environment called, “Making Things Right at Work”. Through research and real-life anecdotes, they offer practical ways and tools to avoid unnecessary conflict and how to solve conflict.

Dr. Thomas and Dr. White join us on the Crossmap Podcast to share common principles that can be used to defuse potentially volatile situations in the workplace. Listen as they share about applying five key sets of skills that can improve relationships at work … even with that person who insists on playing their music at an 11 when the dial only goes to ten.

Links to Our Guests

Making Things Right at Work on Amazon
Dr. Jennifer Thomas Website
Dr. Jennifer on Facebook
Dr. Jennifer on Twitter
Dr. Jennifer on Instagram
Dr. Paul White Website
Dr. Paul White on Facebook

Links to Crossmap

Crossmap Website
Crossmap Facebook

Recently, Craig was excited about taking his family on a vacation to what he perceived to be the happiest place on earth. But as he was going through the process of researching and booking the trip, he began to uncover some things about his vacation destination that he didn’t exactly care for or agree with. Specifically, he didn’t appreciate this company’s opposing stance on many of the issues that he so strongly supports.

Ultimately, Craig swallowed hard and decided to take his family somewhere else on vacation, knowing full well how disappointed his children would be. In the aftermath, he thought, “Gee, I wish there was a place that I could go online that would tell me where a company stands on various issues like right to life, the environment, or gun control."

Well, there is. An organization called 2ndVote researches and scores companies for their alignment to American and Judeo-Christian values. They help consumers by better informing them to effectively support their interests rather than boycotting or “canceling" organizations with whom they disagree.

My guest today, 2nd Vote President Rebecca Hatfield, has devoted her career to educating consumers about what top retailers are funding that does not align with your values. She wants you to shop with those who do support what you support. Ultimately, her desire is to preserve liberty and freedom for future generations.

Rebecca joins us on the Crossmap Podcast to share about the vital role 2nd Vote can play in helping consumers make the decision whether they can support a company or organization by purchasing their products. Listen as she shares about how a better informed customer can have great power in shaping a better, more positive future for America.

Links to 2nd Vote

2nd Vote Website
2nd Vote on Facebook
2nd Vote on Instagram
2nd Vote on Twitter

Links to Crossmap

Crossmap Website
Crossmap Facebook

Hope is at the heart of every journey … so says the tagline of a powerful new movie releasing in theaters soon as a Fathom Event.

When we break that sentence down to its truest essence we find that if this feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen didn’t exist, our lives would be empty and literally void of all the goodness that life affords us.

Hope is what gets us through each day. It is what drives us. It’s the fuel that provides energy, vitality, and strength.

But hope is not guaranteed. It is not free. It is something we must seek. While it may be difficult to locate at times, hope is what keeps us hanging on.

In a new movie that releases in just a few days, we find a young man’s comfortable world is turned upside down when his birth mother unexpectedly reaches out to him, longing to meet the 18-year-old son she has only held once. But she has hope that somehow, someway, he will agree to meet her. This choice he is presented with pushes him to embark on a journey that leads to a staggering truth from his past.

Executive produced by Alex and Stephen Kendrick, this movie called “Lifemark", is based on an incredible true story that celebrates adoption, reconciliation, and most importantly, finding love through hope.

Alex & Stephen join us on the Crossmap Podcast to discuss why right now is the absolute right time to be releasing a movie about adoption. Listen as they share about why they made the decision to step back and let someone else direct one of their movies for the first time and why they are insistent on birthing each and every movie they make through a season of prayer.

Click here to learn more about Lifemark

Links to Crossmap

Crossmap Website
Crossmap Facebook

What makes a great movie?

Some would say it’s all about the acting! Others point to the script saying great writing is the cornerstone of all communication. Or perhaps you are like most of us who would just simply say, “Them special effects are fantastic!"

Our guest today, entertainment executive Michael Scott, would say it’s not so much about the movie but more importantly it’s all about the message.

In his role as CEO at Pure Flix Entertainment, Michael is more concerned about creating family-friendly media that changes lives, inspires hearts and lifts the spirits of people and the ones we love.

Buoyed by the unexpected success of the “God’s Not Dead” movie series several years ago, Pure Flix found themselves becoming a transformational voice in our culture. This virtue is a highly guarded core value of my Michael’s as he and Pure Flix aspire to create up to 15 original projects a year that strengthens one’s faith and values, is suitable for the entire family, and is accessible anywhere through the streaming platform.

Recent projects of note include the movie “Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters”, the documentary “The Case for Heaven”, and the highly entertaining sitcom, “Live & Local".

Michael joins us on the Crossmap Podcast to discuss the current state of online streaming content and how Pure Flix fits into that. Listen as he provides what is essentially your own personal “The State of Faith-Based Online Streaming Report” and his thoughts on why the “God’s Not Dead” movie franchise was so successful.

Links to Michael

Michael on LinkedIn
PureFlix Website

Links to Crossmap

Crossmap Website
Crossmap Facebook

Has there ever been a time in your life where you felt that everything was going so well that you just sort of cruised along thinking nothing would ever go wrong? Perhaps it is a succession of job promotions and salary increases that are based on some innovative idea you came up with. Or maybe you are in a relationship that just seems perfect. You are the ideal compliment for each other. You find you are finishing each other’s sentences and you agree on absolutely everything. Everything you touch seems to turn to gold.

If you are that person we applaud you. But as most people will attest, such good fortune can be fleeting. And it is in these moments that God is often doing a work in you that will make you stronger, wiser, and eventually more prosperous. But learning to trust what can be a painful process often leads to many sleepless nights due to the fear and anxiety you are facing.

Our guest this week, is someone who has spent time on the highest peaks but has also walked through some of the deepest valleys.
Just out of high school, Colton Dixon auditioned and eventually became a Top 7 finalist on American Idol, one of the most successful and long-running programs in television history. From there, he released three number one contemporary Christian albums that were so successful that his music has been streamed over 100 million times online. For Colton’s efforts, he was rewarded with two Dove Awards.

But then, Colton’s record label dropped him. This unexpected roadblock in his career created many questions and doubts. So many in fact, that he considered giving up on his music career. Colton soon realized that he had been taking God’s gifts for granted and he didn’t have an appreciation for what his future held. Fortunately, his wife kept him in constant prayer and continually reminded him to trust God in the uncertainty of his career.

We are happy to report that Colton eventually signed a new record deal and in 2020 released a new EP that hit number one on the Billboard Christian charts. And, did we mention that he has recently started acting and had a guest spot on a new Pure Flix comedy series called “Live & Local"?

Colton Dixon joins us on the Crossmap Podcast to share what pulled him through his dark days after being dropped by his record label. Listen as he describes his “process" that prepared him for his acting debut on the Pure Flix series “Live & Local", and he shares the story behind his latest song “Build a Boat". We even talk about what it takes to win the coveted “Dundee Award".

Links to Colton Dixon

Colton's Website
Colton on YouTube
Follow on Instagram
Follow on Twitter
Follow on Facebook

Links to Crossmap

Crossmap Website
Crossmap Facebook

We are not being careless when we say that our guest today, Jerry B. Jenkins, is one of the most prolific authors of this generation, or any generation for that matter. Penning more than 200 books, including 21 New York Times bestsellers, Jerry has sold more than 72 million cumulative copies worldwide.

Best known for his end times “Left Behind” series, a collection of titles that spawned several major motion pictures, Jerry has also written many biographies on such athletic luminaries as Hank Aaron, Walter Payton, Mike Singletary, and Orel Hershiser. He even assisted Billy Graham on his autobiography.

His latest work is a novelization of season two of the critically acclaimed video series, ‘The Chosen’. Titled “The Chosen: Come and See”, the book is rich in capturing the program’s authentically Biblical base, as readers will identify with the real-life struggles, victories, doubts and issues that we all face … even those personally chosen by Jesus.

In a writing career that spans six decades, Jerry’s career started simply, pounding out sports stories on a typewriter for his high school newspaper.

Jerry joins us on the Crossmap Podcast to share what the collaborative writing process looks like between him and his son Dallas Jenkins, the creator and director of ‘The Chosen’ video series. Listen as he describes what he uncovered in his research about the life of Jesus that astounded him and changed the way he views the Gospel message.

Links to Jerry B. Jenkins

Jerry B. Jenkins Website
Books on Amazon
Follow Jerry on Twitter
Follow Jerry on Facebook

Links to Crossmap

Crossmap Website
Crossmap Facebook

An active father is the single most important factor in a young woman’s development.

From cradling his newborn to walking her down the aisle, a father must enjoy his paramount responsibility … guiding the course of his daughter’s life.

Many books have been written on this topic but none more practical or vital than Dr. Meg Meeker’s 2017 release, “Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters".

So imperative are the principles found in this book, that Pure Flix has released an original movie inspired by Dr. Meeker’s work called appropriately enough, “Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters". The film tells the story of Steve, a father of three who is desperately trying to hold onto his little girls. But can he let go of his child raising techniques and allow God to shape their future as a family?

The movie stars husband and wife actors Robyn Lively and Bart Johnson, a couple who in real life are raising three children of their own, including a daughter.

Robyn and Bart join us on the Crossmap Podcast to discuss the movie and why fathers are the single most important figure in a girl’s life. Listen as they share why it is of such critical importance for a dad to be his daughter’s hero and much more.

Links from the show

Watch Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters on PureFlix
Robyn Lively on Twitter
Robyn Lively on Instagram
Bart Johnson on Twitter
Bart Johnson on Instagram

Links to Crossmap

Crossmap Website
Crossmap Facebook

Prayer is a subject that is sometimes hard to quantify. How many times have we heard someone say, “I will pray for you?"

While these sentiments are well-received and heartfelt, one can wonder whether this is what God truly intended for us when it comes to prayer. Furthermore, it begs the question, is there a right way or a wrong way to pray?

While author and pastor Chad Veach agrees that God listens to anyone who prays, he believes that prayer is a learned skill and people only get better and comfortable at it through practice and experience. In fact, he says prayer is an indispensable activity that we take for granted.

Simply put, prayer connects you to God and being connected to God changes everything.

In his latest book, “Worried About Everything Because I Pray About Nothing", Chad provides people with a glimpse into what it means to pray effectively through practical, humorous insights, all designed to draw you into a closer, more intimate relationship with God.

Chad joins us on the Crossmap Podcast to discuss five misconceptions that many people have about prayer. Listen as he demystifies the concept of prayer, sharing an enthusiastic message of spiritual comfort for those who are overwhelmed.

Links to Chad Veach

Worried About Everything Because I Pray About Nothing
Chad Veach Website
Chad Veach on Facebook
Chad Veach on Instagram
ZOE Church LA

Links to Crossmap

Crossmap Website
Crossmap Facebook

Imagine for a moment that it’s the late 1990s and you are a rising comedian in Los Angeles. You are good enough that you have been on The Tonight Show five times. Life is good and getting better … or so it seems.

While your professional life is good, your personal life is … how shall we say … complicated. That’s because you are trying to lose your religion so that you might become famous for the sake of being famous without any restrictions due to your faith. There will be no checks and balances … just a full-throttle approach to having what you WANT.

There is only one problem with all this. You come from a family of the most famous evangelicals in the country. Thus, your every move will be watched and scrutinized by the unforgiving media. But you don’t care. For the first time in your life, you feel that your unbelief is within reach.

Then … one night God tells you in a dream that you only have 24 hours to live.

That’s the premise for my guest Thor Ramsey’s latest book, “The End Times Comedy Show". While Thor is not a member of a famous evangelical family, he IS a nationally known standup comedian and one of the most recognized names in Christian comedy today.
Thor joins us on the Crossmap Podcast to discuss the controversial issue of deconstructing faith. Listen as he explains why he wants to make people laugh with the new book but also why he wants to take on some controversial issues such as “deconstruction" at the same time.

Links to Thor Ramsey

The End Times Comedy Show - Amazon
Thor Ramsey on Facebook
Thor Ramsey on Twitter

Links to Crossmap

Crossmap Website
Crossmap Facebook

This is shaping up to be a momentous summer for contemporary Christian music artist Tauren Wells.

Fresh from co-hosting the K-LOVE Fan Awards in late May, Tauren is set to perform at the legendary outdoor concert venue, Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado later this summer, before embarking on a headlining tour in the fall. And if that’s not enough, last month he released his third album, Joy in the Morning, the much anticipated follow-up to his 2021 Grammy-nominated offering, Citizen of Heaven Live.

The former Royal Tailor frontman has garnered more than one billion combined global music streams during his career and has charted six number one radio singles since going solo in 2016.

Tauren joins us on the Crossmap Podcast to discuss the new album release which includes the hit singles “Fake It” and “Empty”. Listen as he gives his take on being vulnerable before God when we don’t completely understand what is happening in our lives.

Tauren joins us on the Crossmap Podcast to discuss the new album release which includes the hit singles “Fake It” and “Empty”. Listen as he gives his take on being vulnerable before God when we don’t completely understand what is happening in our lives.

Tauren Wells Links

Tauren Wells Website
Tauren on Instagram
Tauren on Twitter
Tauren on YouTube

Links to Crossmap

Crossmap Website
Crossmap Facebook

Our guest today may not be a household name but you certainly know his work.

A self-described Idaho farm boy, at 11 years old, Neal Harmon purchased a cow and wrote a business plan to create a million dollar dairy, then take the money he earned to become a missionary.

An industrious youth, Harmon believed that he would become the next J.R. Simplot. For those of you scoring at home, Simplot was and is known as Idaho’s most famous billionaire.

While his plan included raising high numbers of heifer twins, little did Harmon realize but he was being groomed for something much more. An innovator in the entertainment business.

Along with his brother, Harmon eventually formed Angel Studios, a home for creative stories that amplify light. You might be familiar with some of Angel Studios projects … the highly successful television series about the life of Jesus, “The Chosen", and Dry Bar Comedy, a place for clean comedians and family friendly comedy. Those programs and other Angel productions have earned billions of video views around the world.

Harmon joins us on the Crossmap Podcast to discuss Angel Studio’s ambitious plan to release more than 300 media projects over the next few years. Listen as he shares about the secret to ’The Chosen’s’ success, and whether he thinks his studio can transform Hollywood due to its disruptor status.

Links to Neal Harmon

Angel Studios Website
Neal Harmon on LinkedIn
Neal Harmon on Twitter

Links to Crossmap

Crossmap Website
Crossmap Facebook

A silent killer.

That has long been a catchy way to describe someone who has high blood pressure but doesn’t realize it. Unfortunately, the same can be said for Alzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia.

With more than six million people living in the United States with an Alzheimer’s or Dementia diagnosis today, this horrible disease affects 50 percent of Americans over the age of 55.

If this trend continues, 12.7 million Americans over the age of 65 will have Alzheimer’s or Dementia by the year 2050.

From a personal standpoint, Alzheimer’s is a death sentence in slow motion. Some have likened it to having a sliver of your brain shaved off every day.

For more than 10 years, my guest today, Greg O’Brien, has taken detailed notes as an embedded reporter inside the mind of Alzheimer’s, a disease that he has fought and continues to battle valiantly. His intent is to chronicle the progression of this demon disease.

In fact, he is the subject of a new documentary called “Have You Heard about Greg?” The film hopes to put a face on this quiet pandemic, and shine a light on the issues that have affected so many families along the way.

Greg joins us on the Crossmap Podcast to discuss some critical lessons he has learned that has taught him how to gracefully live with the disease, not die from it. Listen as he shares why a strong faith and having a good sense of humor are so vital in the battle against Alzheimer’s and Dementia.

Links to Greg O'Brien

Have You Heard About Greg? - Documentary Website
On Pluto: Inside the Mind of Alzheimer's - Amazon
Greg O'Brien's Website

Links to Crossmap

Crossmap Website
Crossmap Facebook

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Recent polling from the McLaughlin Group and Summit Ministries reveals that nearly 80% of voters believe that people who adhere to the values found in the Bible have the right to express their religious beliefs publicly.

Going a step further, the same polling showed that 42% of Americans say they are hesitant or careful to share their opinions on important cultural or political issues for fear they will be taken to task by family, friends, or co-workers. In addition, nearly a third of Americans are concerned their personal opinions and beliefs could cost them their job.

My guest today, Dr. Jeff Myers, heads an organization that is training the next generation of “cancel-proof" Christians who won’t self-censor but boldly proclaim God’s truth. His group is doing this with more than 60 years of experience in Christian worldview training for young adults.

Dr. Jeff joins us on the Crossmap Podcast to discuss how cancel culture is being introduced and reinforced throughout society. Listen as he shares what types of things his organization is doing to “stand in the gap" so to speak to thwart cancel culture and he offers a few tips to win this war for our own integrity.

Dr. Jeff Myers Links

Summit Ministries Website
Summit Ministries on Facebook
Summit Ministries on Instagram
Dr. Jeff Myers on Facebook

Links to Crossmap

Crossmap Website
Crossmap Facebook

Admittedly, there are some great comedians out there today who don’t see the need to drag their audience through the cesspool of profane language, lurid themes, and naughty innuendo. The names Jerry Seinfeld, Jim Gaffigan, and Jeff Foxworthy come to mind. But for every Jerry, Jim, or Jeff, there is a litany of blue comics named Eddie, Louis, or Steve.

There are those comedians who seem to delight in taking us to the brink of indecency before driving us over the cliff and into a sea of swirling sex jokes. However, the mark of a good comic is someone who can make us laugh without leaning on obscenity or coarse commentary.

Our guest today, Keith Stubbs, has devoted his professional livelihood to developing and featuring comedians who are not only clever but clean. His comic production company is called Dry Bar Comedy and intentionally steers away from foul language, dirty jokes, and “woke" political commentary. Call it a comedy counterculture but Dry Bar Comedy is taking humor to the next level minus the offensive elements.

Keith joins us on the Crossmap Podcast to discuss why it is so important to have funny intersect with clean during these troubled days we are living in. Listen as he shares what Dry Bar Comedy stands for, the role faith plays in comedy, and what makes his outlet different from all the other comedy brands.

Keith Stubbs

Dry Bar Comedy

Links to Crossmap

Crossmap Website
Crossmap Facebook

John Schlitt is considered to be a legend of rock and roll music, not in a sarcastic or satirical sense but as a master of his craft. He has earned the title.

His early years were spent fronting a band called Head East. During the 1970s, the band released six albums and charted three hits including the song “Since You Been Gone", which can still be heard on Classic Rock radio to this day.

At the peak of the band’s success, in a life-changing experience, he found salvation in Jesus Christ and decided to leave the band.

After a few years of finding his post-music footing, he received a call to audition for a band that was emerging as the top rock group in contemporary Christian music … Petra. He spent more than 20 years with them, earning four Grammy Awards, numerous Dove Awards, and garnered two-certified Gold Records.

For the last 16 years he has worked primarily as a solo artist and has toured all over the world. Inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, John was recently named the best rock singer in Christian music history by GospelMusicChannel.com.

John joins us on the Crossmap Podcast to walk us through his long standing musical career that spans more than 50 years. Listen as he shares about the changes he has seen in contemporary Christian music since joining Petra in 1986, and his greatest hope for the Christian music industry moving forward.

Links to John Schlitt

John Schlitt's Website
John Schlitt on Facebook
John Schlitt on Twitter

Links to Crossmap

Crossmap Website
Crossmap Facebook

John Lennon. Bob Dylan. Alice Cooper. Johnny Cash.

The aforementioned are all legendary figures when it comes to the history of modern music. And while they each share a vital thread in how the history of rock and roll has been woven together into the fabric of music history, Lennon, Dylan, Cooper, Cash, and many others like them, represent something far greater. They have each climbed to the pinnacle of success only to question the value of their excess once they got there. Sometimes, the world a bonafide rock star finds when they have clawed their way to the top is one of emptiness, disillusionment, and dashed dreams.

Unfortunately, we have lost many of these musical icons before their time. Think Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Amy Winehouse, and Kurt Cobain.

These icons of music are all complicated people yet brilliantly talented. To quote our guest today, “They all breathe rarified air.” But in their commonality, many found that music could not provide them the peace and contentment they were looking for. Nothing on this earth could satisfy them … except one thing. Their curiosity about Jesus Christ.

Greg Laurie has explored the roots of many of these legendary titans of music and traced their spiritual journeys. Along the way, he found that they were not that unlike a lamb, a coin, or a son, that Jesus so eloquently shared in parables from the New Testament. In each case, when all seemed lost, hope was found.

Greg joins us on the Crossmap Podcast to discuss the link between the gospel music roots of rock and roll and the existential questions many musical artists have struggled to answer. Listen as he shares how these stories of fame, fortune, and emptiness can inspire Christians and the correlation he sees with the Book of Ecclesiastes.

Greg Laurie Links

Lennon, Dylan, Alice, and Jesus: The Spiritual Biography of Rock and Roll | Amazon
Harvest Website
Greg Laurie on Twitter
Greg Laurie on Facebook

Links to Crossmap

Crossmap Website
Crossmap Facebook

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These days it is nearly impossible to wake up in the morning without being bombarded by a series of oppositional headlines that makes us wish we had never picked up our smart phone or turned on the television in the first place.

From wars raging around the world, to a different kind of war raging on the right to life issue, race issues, sexuality issues, gun control, global warming, climate change, and even whether Will Smith was right or wrong to slap Chris Rock across the face on international television, these matters just won’t leave us alone. There are so many issues swirling around in our heads these days that we don’t even know how to think straight, nonetheless be informed with a Bible-based, Judeo Christian point of view.

At the end of the day we just feel frustrated, confused, and not knowing what to believe!

My guest today, award-winning actor Kirk Cameron, is more than willing to stand in the gap and discuss these pressing issues that Christians face in a compassionate, educated, and heartfelt manner. In fact, on his new television talk show, “Takeaways” he works very hard with the help of his notable guests to find actionable takeaways that we can use in our everyday lives to make sense of it all as believers.

Kirk joins us on the Crossmap Podcast to discuss the sometimes challenging transition he has made in going from talk show guest to talk show host. Listen as he talks about some of the most challenging issues he has presented on the program so far and whether there is any topic that is off limits. Crafting rustic coffee tables from trees in his backyard is definitely not one!

Click Here Watch "Takeaways" Online

Links to Crossmap

Crossmap Website
Crossmap Facebook

For many years, people have been fascinated by the crossroads of the movie industry and faith.

At first blush, it might seem hard to get your head around the juxtaposition of these two worlds. For a person of faith, the mere mention of Hollywood can conjure up thoughts of politicized themes, immoral situations, and sinful behavior. To a point, this may be true, but it can also be seen as one of the most fertile mission fields out there.

Faith-based movies can certainly make a positive difference to the masses but more importantly Christian actors, directors, and production people can have a life-changing influence on those whom they work with.

My guest today, Kris Polaha, is a Christian actor regularly working in Hollywood and has an upcoming role in the summer blockbuster, “Jurassic World: Dominion”. He sees the movie industry as a place for him to live out his faith in such a way that is welcoming to his peers. In other words, rather than beating people up with the Bible, he instead conducts business in such a manner that those around him will often say, “There’s something different about that guy. I want that in my life. I need whatever it is that he has.”

Well, that something is faith in Jesus Christ.

Kris joins us on the Crossmap Podcast to share the role that faith plays in how he approaches the craft of acting. Listen as he talks about what he looks for in a movie project and whether there is any particular process he goes through when considering an acting role. He might even throw in a quip or two about a velociraptor or a T-Rex!

Where Hope Grows on Pure Flix

Click here to learn more about the movie.

Links to Kris Polaha

Kris Polaha on IMDb
Kris Polaha's Website
Kris Polaha on Facebook
Kris Polaha on Instagram
Kris Polaha on Twitter

Links to Crossmap

Crossmap Website
Crossmap Facebook

Creativity. It is something that many have always believed that you either have it or you don’t.

Not to be confused with being clever or crafty, to be creative is to capture a myriad of innovative concepts floating around your brain, pluck them from the blue sky, and craft them into something tangible, useful, and clear.

The only problem with that thought is that many believe that to be truly creative we need to wait for the inspiration. In other words, It just happens when it happens. And if we do that, the world often moves on without us while we wait for our Eureka moment to arrive.

Author and television producer Phil Cooke believes that whether you are a creative professional like a writer, musician, filmmaker, or an engineer, salesperson, or teacher, you can overcome the stumbling block of timing and deliver great ideas when you need them most.

In fact, in his latest book, “Ideas on a Deadline: How to Be Creative When the Clock is Ticking”, Cooke shows us how to “prime the pump” of your creativity to deliver great ideas when you need them most.

Phil joins us on the Crossmap Podcast to share why creativity is a necessary commodity to stay competitive these days. Listen as he provides a few tips for developing amazing ideas under pressure and talks about why the demand for creativity grows as the world accelerates.

Links to Phil Cooke

Ideas on a Deadline: How to Be Creative When the Clock is Ticking - Book
Phil Cooke’s Website
Phil Cook on Facebook
Phil Cooke on Twitter
Phil Cook on Instagram

Links to Crossmap

Crossmap Website
Crossmap Facebook

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Do all dogs really go to heaven?

That question has been bandied about by the best of us for many generations. While we could likely spend an entire afternoon going back and forth about the theological and philosophical ramifications of that question, instead, we turn our attention to the profound experience of losing our beloved pets here on earth.

Noted author and radio host Mark Gregston has first hand experience with this. After his dog recently passed away, he knew he needed a way to talk about the passing of an animal that had served him so loyally and had been such an integral part of his family. His new book, “Where’s Stitch: When You Feel Like You’ve Lost Your Best Furry Friend” strives to guide children dealing with the loss of their pet.

Mark joins us on the Crossmap Podcast to share a few tips from a faith-based point of view on how to help your children or grandchildren work through the process of grieving the loss of your pet. Listen as he talks about holding onto the positive memories of our pets while moving confidently into the future.

Links to Mark Gregston

Where’s Stitch: When You Feel Like You’ve Lost Your Best Furry Friend | Book
Parenting Today's Teens Website
Parenting Today's Teens on Facebook

Links to Crossmap

Crossmap Website
Crossmap Facebook

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With the exception of Mom’s Night Out released in 2014, or a scene here and there from a Kendrick Brothers release, movie goers are really hard pressed to find something of substance to point to as a successful Christian comedic film.

Faith-based movie executives point to the fact comedy walks a fine line between being tasteful and tasteless. In essence, what is funny to some is not funny to others. In fact, sometimes it can be downright offensive. Subsequently, movie studios have traditionally stayed away from these releases in the past because they don’t want to “walk a tightrope” of spiritual decency trying to keep everyone happy.

A new movie releasing this month hopes to change that notion. Family Camp portrays two seemingly polar-opposite families who are assigned to share the same cabin for a hilariously eventful week at church camp.

The movie marks the feature-length film debut of The Skit Guys, Tommy Woodward and Eddie James, two comedy veterans who have performed skits and improv on thousands of stages all over the world. Disney Channel alum Leigh-Allyn Baker and Robert Amaya (Courageous) also star.

Tommy and Eddie join us on the Crossmap Podcast to share why it is important for families to laugh together during these unsettling times we are living in. Listen as they talk about how humor can break down barriers and learn a bit more about Family Camp.

Jars of Clay lead singer Dan Haseltine has spent the better of his adult life collaborating with his bandmates to create quality music for millions of listeners. In a career spanning nearly 30 years, Jars of Clay has garnered multiple Grammy Awards, the benchmark for musical excellence.

It is his passion for making music that has encouraged Haseltine to explore the collaborative process more fully by expanding his musical pursuits. Most notably, he has immersed himself recently in composing musical scores along with friend Matthew S. Nelson, a Nashville studio musician.

Together, the duo have been commissioned to create the subtle yet sophisticated musical expressions you hear in the groundbreaking video series, “The Chosen”. Their hope is to create musical elements that will bring the viewing experience full circle, capturing the full rhythms of time and space.

Dan and Matthew join us on The Crossmap Podcast to share their approach to creating music for the show in hopes of having it become an additional character of sorts on the program. Listen as they talk about the collaborative process and how it can be both exhilarating and exasperating all at the same time.

Dr. Jim Denison believes that a surging number of Christians are softening their stance on what he calls four cultural earthquakes: the rise of a post-truth culture, sexual revolution, critical theory, and secular religion. And it is the cultural acceptance of these secular ideologies that will undoubtedly shift and seismically shape our world in the years ahead.

There is growing sentiment that this is the gravest danger Christians have ever faced and ultimately will make the 1960s seem like an era of peace, love, and happiness rather than a doorway to the destruction of decency that it was.

Dr. Denison joins us on The Crossmap Podcast to discuss his latest book, “The Coming Tsunami: Why Christians Are Labeled Intolerant, Irrelevant, Oppressive, and Dangerous – and How We Can Turn the Tide”. Listen as Dr. Denison urges Christians to not run away from these tidal waves but defend the truth of God’s Word that will undoubtedly have a positive effect on the generations to come.

Billie Jauss has spent the better part of 30 years following professional baseball in a way that is uncommon to most. As the wife of longtime Major League Baseball coach Dave Jauss, Billie has been able to see the pressures of the game on players and coaches and the external distractions that come with it. In essence, she has seen some of the best athletes in the world struggle to overcome emotional barriers in their lives.

From this experience, Billie determined that by detoxing from the anxiety and pressures that often present themselves to us in a variety of ways, we can claim confidence and find personal fulfillment in realizing God’s best for us.

Billie joins us on The Crossmap Podcast to discuss her latest book, “Distraction Detox”, a guide for discovering what God intended for our lives and how we can claim victory over distraction. Listen as Billie shows us a five-step plan that will release confidence, peace, and fulfillment within us. We will even talk a little baseball too!

In a series of divine, dramatic encounters, author and television host Shawn Bolz was recently given a glimpse into the spirit realm that gave him a sneak peek into the character of God’s heart.

Simply put, Shawn met God in a unique way and believes his supernatural experience will help others to better relate to what the Bible teaches.

Bolz joins us on The Crossmap Podcast to discuss his latest book, “Encounter,” a work designed to help readers expand their “spiritual intelligence” and to walk in the life God has prepared for them. Listen as Shawn shares from his personal encounters with God that he believes will help you better relate to what the Bible teaches.

Long before Lee Strobel became a bestselling author, most notably for his watershed book, "The Case for Christ,"he was a nose-to-the-grindstone investigative reporter known for his relentless pursuit of the truth. But beyond the grit and grind of the hard-charging newspaper industry, Strobel was an avowed atheist. So deeply rooted in his beliefs, he set out to debunk every claim that Christianity ever made. There was only one problem. He couldn’t do it.

In a similar dogged fashion, Strobel had a brush with death a few years ago that inspired him to explore mankind’s biggest fear: what happens when we die? Do we go to heaven, hell, or someplace in between? The end result for him was a book, "The Case for Heaven," that took readers on a detailed exploration of the most logical outcomes for a human being’s demise.

Strobel joins us on The Crossmap Podcast to discuss his latest movie project, “The Case for Heaven," a Fathom movie event to be shown in theaters nationwide April 4, 5, and 6. Listen as Strobel builds his case in support of the afterlife, why death is not the end of our existence, and what actually happens when we take our last breath.

For brothers Andy and Jon Erwin, the chance to make a movie about football icon Kurt Warner was the culmination of a 20-year dream for them both.

Long before directing American Underdog, set to release on home video, February 22nd, the Erwins were two Alabama teenagers with a dream of one day directing movies that could change the world.

Truly underdogs in their own right, Jon and Andy were fortunate enough to find work as cameramen on college football games for ESPN.

The pair eventually became good enough at their burgeoning craft to work the 2002 Super Bowl, pitting the New England Patriots against Kurt Warner and the St. Louis Rams. Little did the brothers know that they would be making a movie about the football legend’s life 20 years later.

Andy Erwin joins us on The Crossmap Podcast to discuss why everyone seems to love an underdog story, how Brenda Warner entered her future husband’s life at just the right time, and the role that faith played in Kurt’s rags to riches rise to fame.

Georgia megachurch pastor Benny Tate endured a childhood marked by abuse and abandonment only to battle many heartbreaking situations in his adult life, including navigating a difficult illness and battling through infertility with his wife. Yet for every setback and seemingly impossible situation he faced, Benny walked out his faith and actually grew in strength and wisdom.

Tate joins us on The Crossmap Podcast to discuss his debut book “Defy the Odds: How God Can Use Your Past to Shape Your Future”. Listen to him discuss how God has the power to redeem every situation, the search for finding a renewed purpose, and why transformation to a better life is certainly possible no matter how dark your circumstances are.

For nearly two decades, Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Brooke Ligertwood has served the global church through song, leadership and creativity as part of Hillsong Worship. Concurrently, she has also had a successful mainstream recording career as a solo artist, releasing six previous albums as Brooke Fraser. Now comes a seventh album, but this one is a bit different.

Ligertwood joins us on The Crossmap Podcast to discuss her first live solo album, “Seven.” Recorded last spring in Nashville, the project features her husband Scott Ligertwood, Jason Ingram, Pastor Steven Furtick, Brandon Lake, Phil Wickham, and even a 30-piece choir. Listen as Brooke shares her passion for the marriage of theology and art, as she walks us through a few of the songs including the first single, “A Thousand Hallelujahs”.

Phil Robertson is the unlikeliest of bestselling authors. Known far and wide as the Duck Commander, Robertson is a professional hunter and invented his own duck call that earned him millions. And we must not forget … he also starred in the popular television series “Duck Dynasty”.

Robertson joins us on The Crossmap Podcast from the banks of Louisiana’s Ouachita River to chat about his latest book, “Uncanceled: Finding Meaning and Peace in a Culture of Accusations, Shame, and Condemnation”. Listen to Phil as he offers a few beard grooming tips to host Chris Carpenter and challenges listeners to stand up for the truth of Jesus Christ in a culture that has forgotten how to be respectful of one another.