Our Journey to Hope

Send us Fan Mail In this third installment of the series on how grandfathers help instill hope in their children, I am speaking with Dr. Steve Wages of the Cloverdale Center for Youth & Family Ministries at Faulkner University in Montgomery, Alabama.  Steve brings a wealth of insights into this topic as both a grandfather and a researcher and teacher.   I invite you to listen to the depth of w...

Send us Fan Mail This is the second episode in the series about how grandfathers help instill hope in their grandchildren.  In this episode I am speaking with Brent Missildine.  Brent is one of our ministers at the Prattville Church of Christ in Prattville, AL.   As you listen you will hear how Brent and his wife Lisa faced a devastating challenge to their hope as grandparents.  You learn how thro...

Send us Fan Mail Throughout history the role of grandparents has been vital to the continuation of the family.  In the next four episodes I want to hear from four men who are brothers in the Lord, personal friends of mine, and grandfathers.  We will explore their thoughts on the importance of their role in helping instill hope in their grandchildren.  In this first episode in the series I’ll explo...

Send us Fan Mail I am thrilled when I hear passion in the voice of people as they discuss their life and challenges to hope.  Such is the case with my guest in this episode.  I am having a conversation with BT Irwin of the Christian Chronicle Newspaper.   BT is the host of the Christian Chronical Podcast.  In our conversation he shares the mission of the Christian Chronicle and podcast.  He aslo s...

Send us Fan Mail Challenges to hope come from many different directions.  Some are unexpected and some are cultivated, perhaps not intentionally.  Such seems to be the impact of abuse and alcoholism.  We don’t realize the increasing grip it has until it has that firm, almost unbreakable hold. But there is hope!  My guest on this podcast is a remarkable woman who is winning the challenge to her hop...

Send us Fan Mail Suicide is such a tragedy in families and others.  It seems to leave us with a sense confusion and if we are part of the problem.  It also is often very difficult for us to move on. My guest in this episode experienced the tragedy of their father taking his life when they were teenagers.   Loosing a family member always remains a part of our existence.  It is even more so when it...

Send us Fan Mail I've posted a lot of episodes on my podcast and there have been many that shine above the rest. This one shines very bright.  I have a wonderful conversation with James Early about what it means to love like Jesus and how we can do this.  We share insights and perspectives on how it draws us closer to our Lord and grows our hope.  We share our devotion and service to our Lord...

Send us Fan Mail Those of us that have children know how much we hurt, even physically, when on of our children suffer.  Even the childhood mishaps and scrapes woult tear my heart apart.  I wanted to take all the suffering off of them and bear it. My guest in this podcast, Tracy Ripley lived through the drama of a child with congenital heart disease.  Through it all she relied on her faith in the...

Send us Fan Mail If there is anything we share it is that all of us have experienced suffering at some level.  I often marvel at the resiliance and grace others express as I know the suffering they are enduring.   A question that is often asked is why God allow suffering.  Isn't He all powerful and all loving?  How then can He allow suffering to happen to His greatest creation. In this episod...

Send us Fan Mail In the book of James in the New Testament, he states in chapter 1, verse 27, that caring for orphans and widows is one indication of pure relition.   My guest in this podcast is living that life as he and his staff provide invaluable services for children and their families.  Shawn Hull is the director of the Cherokee Home for Children in Cherokee, Texas.  He and the staff have de...

Send us Fan Mail The word special is a wonderful word.  It communicates something set aside for a focused purpose.  It elevates someone so we are made aware of their qualities.  Such should be our view of children with special needs.  We can focus on what they contribute to our life. We often, and rightfully so, marvel when someone adopts a child with special needs.  My guest on this episode went...

Send us Fan Mail It is a joy to interact with those that have a passion for their field.  It is even better when that field is helping others.  Then, on top of all that, it is about helping those that are among the most vulnerable and needful in our society. My guest in this episode is such a remarkable person.  I am having a wonderful conversation with Sharon Dunlevy.  Sharon is an education advo...

Send us Fan Mail My guest for this podcast episode is Ben Bethel.  Ben started life much the same as many of us.  He continued with hopes and dreams like any of us.  He was a part of many of the same life activities.  But because of choices he made, his life took a detour and he began to be caught up in addictive substances and associated behaviors.  As this detour continued and his hopes were cha...

Send us Fan Mail I once heard someone say that the only constant in the universe is change.  That's a great way to look at change.  It happens whether we want it to or not.  Nothing stays the same.  There are times when we want change and times when we don't.  Regardless, change happens. There are many reasons why we don't want change.  Sometimes we do want and need change and have...

Send us Fan Mail All of us face challenges to our hope.  Sometimes these challenges come from directions we least suspect.  Sometimes we might not even realize our hope is being challenged.  We know we want something but don't quite know where to look.  Sometimes we also attempt to fool ourselves into believing things are going great while in reality, our life is a dumster fire. My guest in t...

Send us Fan Mail Unfortunately, all of us face tragedy in life to some degree.  My guest in this podcast experienced the heartbreaking loss of a son. Chandler was a young man full of life with a bright future.  He was the kind of young man all parents wished for.  He was healthy, full of life, loved his family deeply, and was loved and appreciated by many. Then one day tragedy struck, and Chandler...

Send us Fan Mail There are many ways to help bring hope to others.  Perhaps we have a close relationship and can encourage.  Perhaps we know someone that can help when a person’s hope is challenged.  There are so many ways to plant seeds for our Lord.  In this episode I am speaking with Dennis Doughty.  Dennis is the editor for the Magnolia Messenger.  It is a publication designed to present a wid...

Send us Fan Mail Challenges to hope come in many different forms and from directions we might not expect.  And sometimes those challenges to hope can become encouragements and enhancement to hope.  In this episode I chat with a new friend, Kim Stilp.  Kim has a compelling story to tell about her son informing them that he was gay.  The family went through a myriad of emotions, including shame and...

Send us Fan Mail Most of us are visual learners.  When we read something, our imagination takes over to form an image.  This helps us learn.  Such is among the many benefits of Appian Media.  This outstanding documentary company produces superior video presentations of biblical lands and events.  And it’s not just me saying so.  Recently they won a very prestigious award for the quality and conten...

Send us Fan Mail There are so many questions, concerns, or just life issues that we face as parents.  And just when we think we’re home free, looking to the great times, issues are behind us that we get hit with something devastating.  We have no idea where it comes from.  There’s usually a feeling of what have I done wrong.  Perhaps nothing.   In this episode I have a conversation with Debbie McN...

Send us Fan Mail It is easy to feel our hope is challenged when we receive a devestating diagnosis of a chronic or deadly disease.  Some even give up hope.  But it doesn't have to be that way.  We can find hope, perhaps especially during these times if we are looking in the right direction.   In this episode I am speaking with Drew Kizer.  Drew is relatively young and received the diagnosis o...

Send us Fan Mail There are many different situations in life that some might consider a challenge to hope.  And perhaps they are in some ways.  But sometimes what others think of as a challenge to hope turns out to be a wonderful enhancement to their life. In this episode I have a conversation with my niece Rene Whitt.  Rene and her husband Eric adopted a beautiful baby named Tylee.  Tylee was dia...

Send us Fan Mail Friends, this is my 100th podcast episode published.  Thank you for listening.  The support and encouragement from so many is deeply appreciated. One of the joys I experience with my podcast is meeting new friends.  I've discovered there are many wonderful people with amazing talents and stories to tell.  One such person is my new friend, Shara Goswick.  Shara has a podcast h...

Send us Fan Mail Of all the gifts God gives us, and the one that is the most important, is God's grace.  In this episode I talk about that gift and how we find eternal hope because of it and through it. Please join me as I look at this incredible gift.  I published a book about various teachings of Paul. This information about God's grace was part of that book.  If you would like to obta...

Send us Fan Mail It is common to see volunteers serving at hospitals, clinics, cancer centers, and other such medical providers.  These volunteers often share the commonality of having received themselves excellent care.  It serves to create in them a sense of wanting to help others who are going through similar treatment.  They share a strong sense of wanting to pay back and pay forward. In this...