Our Resolute Hope Podcast

Psalm 23 is the Lord’s job description as our Shepherd.  It describes all He does to address the parts of our lives that interfere with the expression of His life in us.

Pastor Frank continues his visit with Jim Welch.  His ministry, Real Restoration, rescues trafficked, sexually exploited, and at-risk girls from danger, and guides them toward a new journey of life (RealRestoration.org).

Pastor Frank’s guest is Jim Welch, director of Real Restoration.  Active in Nepal, Bhutan, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Uganda, and Kenya, this ministry rescues trafficked, sexually exploited, and at-risk girls from danger, and guides them toward a new journey of life (RealRestoration.org).

Pastor Frank visits with Brian Miller, founder of Global Transformation Ministries in Medellín, Colombia.  The ministry rescues children from the streets, victims of sex trafficking, and exploited girls (TMinistries.org

In this second of two-interviews, Pastor Frank continues his conversation with JimBob Norman, missionary at New Song Mission in Nicaragua (NewSongNica.org).

In this two-part series, Pastor Frank interviews JimBob Norman.  A native of North Carolina, JimBob now ministers at New Song Mission in Nicaragua (NewSongNica.org).

Our wise and loving Father knows precisely what to prune, when to prune, and how to prune things from our lives so that we can bear just the right amount and type of fruit He intends.

The parable of the barren fig tree captures the attributes of our Vinedresser Father.  He is focused, patient, determined, protective, and longsuffering, willing to do all He can so that we’ll bear fruit.  

Suffering is a strong foundation for friendship.  It was true for Abraham, God’s friend.  It’s true for us too, as we share in the sufferings of our Friend, Jesus Christ.

Our Friend God is without equal.  He loves, accepts, encourages, and supports us at all times.  And we experience His Friendship most fully when we go through adversity.

Our Husband God is like no other.  He hears and understands us.  He always makes us feel special.  He believes in and trusts us.  He provides everything we need.  And He is always there for us.

The Bible provides stunning insights into an often-overlooked aspect of God’s revealed identity: Husband.  He not only made us, but He treasures us and adorns us with His glory.

As His bride, we are responsible:  to grow in the knowledge of God, our Bridegroom; to receive Him as Lord and allow Him to meet our needs as He sees fit; and to trust and yield to Him as our very Life.

Intimacy.  Acceptance.  Dependence.  Trust.  Celebration.  Love.  Peace.  Joy.  Enthusiasm.  Security.  Giving.  Receiving.  Knowing.  All these are facets of the relationship that is ours to enjoy – today – as the bride of Christ.

Light describes our basic identity, who we are in Christ.  Facing certain adversity from those who love darkness, we’re to let our light shine, consciously choosing to step into the world’s darkness and shine the light of our Savior Jesus, Who indwells us.

Salt defines how we’re to interact with a fallen world.  More that just a preservative and a seasoning, we’re to boldly proclaim Jesus to the world.  We’re an aroma of death to the perishing but a fragrance of life to those who are being saved.

In this second of two interviews, Pastor Frank continues his conversation with David Gregory, speaker, teacher, and author of The Rest of the Gospel and the New York Times bestseller, Dinner With A Perfect Stranger.

In this two-part series, Pastor Frank interviews David Gregory, speaker, teacher, and author of The Rest of the Gospel and the New York Times bestseller, Dinner With A Perfect Stranger.

God never told us to save our world or rescue society.  That battle will leave us frustrated, confused, and angry.  We must cling tightly to our Father and to His promise that He is in control and is working out ALL things according to His perfect plan.

Economic crises.  Wars and threats of war.  Climate.  Rioting.  Racial tension.  Corruption.  Crime.  Rising suicide rates.  Believers everywhere ask, “What can we do?”  Paul told us in Colossians 3:2 to set our minds on things above, not on things that are on the earth.

While recognizing our fleshly characteristics is an important first step, we must follow it with corresponding Scriptural truths from Father’s Word.  Continually renewing our minds with these truths will enable us to resist the enemy and stand against his attacks.

Temptations to sin are offered to us by our enemy, who often masquerades as us and makes it difficult to recognize his voice.  To spot the lies, we must understand and embrace the truth about i) who we are in Christ and ii) our fleshly weaknesses that make us vulnerable.

Effective spiritual warfare hinges on four keys that Christians must master if they wish to live in freedom:  i) Recognize the condemning thought; ii) Refuse that thought; iii) Reckon (consider) themselves dead to sin and alive to God; and iv) Rest in Jesus.

Spiritual warfare bears no resemblance to what’s depicted in the media.  It’s not a power struggle, with good and evil battling and the victor undecided.  It’s a truth struggle, with the veracity of Father’s Word proving false all of the enemy’s lies.

In this final episode of the series, Frank and Paul Byrd discuss what came next after retiring from baseball, including the launch and focus of Byrdhouse Ministries (thebyrdhouseministries.com).