Faith that Acts

Learn why its more important than ever to grow missional communities across the West, the powerful force for change our youth are, and the potential to increase Christian presence in our neighborhoods.

Explore what it means to be a light right where you live. Discover the Mission of God and why this is a conversation that must be had. Did you know that some studies suggest that in the next 30 years, American churches need to plant 215,000 to possibly as many as 275,000 new churches simply to keep up with population growth and the current rate of church closings? Arise, Shine, friends! May your light burn brightly in the neighborhood.

a life, a fall, a recovery and a coming to faith that bears witness to the saving grace of Christ. It is a testimony that reveals the challenges of one life - from not fully hearing the gospel in church as a youth, to the ravages war can have on a veteran, to recovery in both faith and life. You will hear of the transforming power of God’s Word in very real terms.

Life lessons and a legacy of faith discovered in a pocket-sized notebook found during one family's search for ancestors.

Many people as asking why Christianity is on the decline in the West. Listen to this well researched two part podcast analyzing the trend and faithful response.

New Year's is a great opportunity to set out with new ambitions. But is this hope? In this episode we explore how Christmas is the true hope to live into for life.

An interview with YoungLife staffer Anneke Stremler. She shares her walk in faith and her passion for training our youth in the ways of Christ. After a tragic loss, she emerges stronger in her pursuit of God and her desire for service.

An interview about the compassion, operation, and challenges of the Elmhurst-Yorkfield Food Pantry. Hunger may be where you least expect it, maybe even next-door!

A review and lessons learned from the 2016 Global Leadership Summit.

Have you wondered just how it is that people come to Jesus? Why do they make that choice? Today, we discuss both the doctrine and the experience of coming to Christ.

By listener request, this episode is the continuing story of God's grace in the life of Barry Gladden, founder of Faith that Acts! Special Host Ed Ronne seeks to answer what the impact of this ministry has been on it's founder as well as explore some revealing details not in his published testimony.

Once rescued by the Pacific Garden Mission, Stephen Welch surrenders his life to Christ choosing to serve others. The Director of Development shares his testimony and how after a fall, he rediscovered the love of Jesus.

Pastor Brandon Cooper discusses relational discipleship, it's relevance, and how to encourage discipleship that results in disciples who make disciples.

A fun interview with Mr. Edward Ronne. Fabulous stories of life - have you been brought to the hospital in a wheelbarrow? And practical faith that serves. During his career as a broadcaster, Mr. Ronne, was privileged to interview Dr. Billy Graham, Ruth Graham, Dale Evans, the wife of cowboy Roy Rogers, Richard Nixon just prior to his presidency, and Dr. Glenn T. Seaborg a co-inventor of Plutonium. He has also been the voice of Grey Wolf on the Radio Adventure, Ranger Bill! Enjoy.

A great discussion with special guest Pastor John Wendel about personal authenticity and how it's opposite, inauthenticity, shows up in our lives. Practical suggestions included!

We lay out the biblical perspective on perseverance leveraging scripture, Charles Spurgeon, Jerry Bridges, John MacArthur, John Piper as well as various studies on what it means to Persevere.

A woman impacts her community for Christ. Called to use her family farm to serve the poor, she enlists her church to participate and her act of service becomes a mission. This episode is full of life transformation and a growing response to grace.

What is the value of a good old book? Sure books are content driven and the bible is the Word of God. Sometimes we load them up with momentos of life or hand them down through generations. But do our bibles reveal something about us?

"I am not fully there yet," a social services Chief Executive says. What does that mean and how does it relate to the application of Christian faith in our modern lives? What is the intersection between what we claim to believe and our daily lives. Stigma - Christian Faith - Modern Life discusses how culture seems to necessitate a separation of our spiritual life and how we live in the world... how we answer this challenge says much about the heart. Do we choose to live siloed lives, acquiescing into silence and denial? Do we trust God's provision shown by how we live? Do we bear the stigma of His great name without fear? Does our love for Christ inform our decisions and behavior? Special guest, Steve Boisse asks, "are we different, can people really see a difference enough to inquire of us? Barry, I can't tell you how often this leads to discussion about what I believe..." Friends, I invite you to listen to a business executive speak unashamedly of his faith in Jesus Christ. He thoughtfully discusses his testimony and shares about living out our faith in all that we do. [powerpress] Bearing the stigma of Christ, living what we claim to believe unashamedly matters. This is an opportunity to review the reality of your relationship with God. Do we bear His name? Do we live our lives in a manner worthy of the gospel(Phil 1:27)? Are we absolutely surrendered and alive in Christ? Mr. Boisse discusses practical ways of putting Christ first "in the normal rhythms of life... I don't want to be where Peter was, denying the Lord." This episode is about the practical application of faith from the life of a CEO. The encouragement you find here, will lead you to examine how you identify in the world. Links to Resources Mentioned in the Podcast 1) Read about Steve's company DayOne Pact by clicking here.

Here's why waiting is important. It's not the exception to the rule. It is normal and if you experienced it, you are in good company The question is, "What is the effect waiting has on us?"

Christmas is upon us. Christmas concerts are everywhere, music is playing, the rush to finish shopping is afoot. Much of what we enjoy about Christmas today comes from a melding of traditions from many cultures and has secular origins. I invite you to listen in on this podcast. You’ll not only learn about these traditions but that a gift is so much more than what’s in the box, and that Jesus is indeed the gift of God.

Eternity, it is before us all. Do you wonder about it? Contemplations on Billy Graham's Where I Am Reviews his new book and I share my observations.

A young local missionary explains what it means to "surrender all" to the Lord and to serve in America's affluent culture where the perceived need for God seems to lessen every day. But, in reality He is greatly needed. This is a story about the reality of God in a young woman's life who deeply desires to reach America's youth for Christ in their most vulnerable years.

In Of Pride and Humility, I speak to the issue and how pride, part of our being, is at the root of sin in our lives. Not all pride is bad, however. Like good cholesterol and bad cholesterol. If you should boast, boast in Christ as the apostle Paul said. I invite you to take a journey with me into a discussion of pride in life, how Jesus was free from it, and how He is the example we are to follow.

Faith, Surrender, and Learning to Serve, is the story of a missions-minded young woman growing in faith through her formative years. Here, you will hear about the importance of community, the positive impact of youth leaders in the Church, and how the grace and hard love godly mentors give keeps us pointed toward the cross. Krysta has a deep passion for discipling young women and helping others. A recent college graduate, she speaks with a maturity beyond her years noting that, "Now, I own my faith." We are delighted to bring you this episode. It will encourage you in your walk of faith.

In Plug in the Jug: Alcoholism to Saving Faith, a young father discusses his decent into dependency and how he found recovery and the love of Jesus.

August 5th and 6th, I attended the 2015 Global Leadership Summit. It is a Christ-centered leadership event which since it's inception has expanded to satellite broadcast worldwide in over 105 countries and 250,000 attendees.This podcast will share key takeaways from the event as well as a lite review of the content. In the end there are several age old theme that come through; we need people, it is better to give than to receive, when we become leaders we forfeit any right to make excuses, everybody benefits when leaders improve and our minds can deceive us, and in the hands of Jesus our insufficiency becomes abundance. Listen with pen in hand! No matter what you lead or hope to lead, there is something here for everyone.

In God's Faithfulness and Ours I discuss multiple observations about faith related to our spiritual development, growth in faith and God's ultimate faithfulness and that it multiplies our confidence and dependence on Him.

Here's how what is in our hearts comes out in our lives. Do we edify and build people up or tear them down? Do we keep our commitments or walk away. Do we receive criticism with a humble heart or reject it? Why do we justify our leaving relationships because somebody offends us while at the same time claiming our freedom in Christ. Our true character is often revealed in crisis. In Relationships Matter, I discuss 3 relationships that have impacted my life.

Here's the story of a man who logged 4.5 million miles driving a tractor trailer all over North America. Having been "really out there in the world," Burt Porter discusses the struggles of being away from home for 2 - 5 months at a time while raising a young family and the struggles of exercising faith on the road. In From Big Rigs to Christ and Bikes, get the inside story of a career on the road and the transition to an active life of service for God.

This is a great story of a man with a heart to follow and serve. Kyle openly shares his testimony revealing his faith, doubts and struggles. God is faithful and you will see how in Kyle's life God drew on all of Kyle's life experience and skills as he pursued his calling. From education, to marriage, to missions, to ministry; enjoy this beautiful testimony of a young man mature well beyond his years.

In How to Make Worship Personal, I share how I discover natural unmanufactured worship, genuine acknowledgement of God simply because He alone is worthy. This is also the wrap on Season 1 and I offer a brief summary of key lessons learned in season 1.

Discover Spiritual Disciplines and how they can impact our walk in faith. In Spiritual Disciplines - What? I offer my experience. Perhaps you will identify with these, and perhaps you will learn something new. Be encouraged to be intentional about your faith.

Here's how I handle doubt. Doubt can be devastating in our walk of faith. For some, it may prevent them from stepping forward to accept and know God. Have you experienced moments of doubt? It can hit from many angles from God's existence to does He answer prayer. It can even cause us to question our calling. In experiencing doubt in faith I discuss the relationship between doubt, faith, and obedience. I have found that doubt is a part of my experience and in fact is an integral part of the development of my faith and isn't always negative.

Sometimes we're too busy to notice the small things in life. Hear how simple observations about a Christmas cactus that insists on blooming at Easter each year deepened my faith.

Missions trips were something I never thought I'd do myself. I reasoned that was something for someone else to do and report on in church occasionally. In Missions - A Growing Heart to Serve, a must hear episode, I share heartfelt, life altering, perspective changing lessons-learned, while on a trip to 4 countries in Asia that would result in my stepping out to unashamedly share my faith.

In Honoring Parents - My Tribute, I discuss the impact of my parents in the context of honoring them. Here I use a tribute to honor them publically. Listen. Here's why honoring parents matters.

In How To Know Your Calling - A Pastor's Perspective, gain biblical insight about just what calling is and how we can come into the knowledge of it. Also discover how connected identity, purpose, and calling are.

In Why YOU should mentor, enjoy an intimate view into the importance and incalculable value of these special relationships. In Season 1 Episode 5, I shared the mentee's perspective. Here, in Season 1 Episode 8, we discuss the mentor's perspective. Two men seeking God together intentionally and authentically. In his oft encouraging way Ralph states concerning people considering mentoring, "...we are not close to perfection. But, we might be a little further along in our experience. We might be a little further along in our wisdom and be able to share that. Find somebody to mentor, a generation before us. The value of that is incalculable."

In this episode, My Calling - How I knew, I share how I confidently knew my calling. Have you ever wondered what your calling is? I think we all have a one time or another. I remember sitting with the guidance counselor at school to discuss what I would do with my life. You know, that time when they try to align your interest, academic strengths, and possible majors with a suitable institution? You just kind of hope they get it right. Ultimately, life happens and adjustments get made or it was never right to begin with, we're unfulfilled and we begin to search. Well, I took my search to God. I was shocked by where it led and learned much about myself in the process. At the end of the episode, I outline the key steps I saw in my experience.

Before we get to calling in the next episode, it is important to understand purpose. For years I thought the world was my oyster - or at least parts of it! In reality, getting beyond myself was a long and sometimes difficult process. There was a point that I discovered that the world was not all that I thought it to be. Getting there involved brokenness, recognition of need, loss of self in terms of realizing that God’s purpose is greater than my own and putting the prideful, self-sufficient me aside, the impact of His word, and the positive godly influence of both people and community in my life.

Have you had an influential person in your life - one that stood by you, believed in you, built into you, maybe even helped shape your spiritual development and affirm you? I have. In Season 1 Episode 5 - Mentors and Their Impact, I speak about mentors who have impacted me for Christ and I am fortunate to have such men in my life. I speak to the committed role of a mentor, not a chance relationship with someone we look up to or who possesses a business skill or talent we want. Rather, it is an intentional relationship with someone whose values, spiritual maturity, and life skills we not only admire but they agree to this Christ-centered role in our lives and hold us accountable even when it may not be wanted or convenient. Be sure to listen and be encourage to foster or seek these meaningful relationships in your life.

We all have something that influences us or brings us to a cross-roads of sorts. Sometimes it's an uplifting experience. Something we read, heard or saw happen. Sometimes it's a relationship. Sometimes it's a loss. Sometimes it's temporary. Sometimes it's lasting... I have experienced what I'm coining The Word Effect - Impact of God's Word. How has God's Word impacted you? I pursued the Word as an answer about how to know God. Then knowledge of it began to influence my life and decisions (though I often still made wrong choices). Then, it's invaluable life principles built on the foundation of Jesus began to stir a desire to respond to what He had done on the cross and in my life. Now I want to act in a manner consistent with what I believe. This episode fills in some of the details regarding the effect God's Word had, and still has, on me. This podcast is being posted a week early, I know. This way we can squeeze in one more before the celebrated birthday of our Lord. Please offer your comments, subscribe and receive a FREE copy of the new song and please be sure to join us for episode 5 in two weeks. We'll have a special guest interview about biblically-based mentoring and the impact it can have on our lives. A book mentioned in the podcast which is a great guide for personal revival. Having used it, I highly recommend Seeking Him: Experiencing the Joy of Personal Revival. Though not discussed in detail here, this subject matter will be the topic of a future podcast. [powerpress]

As I returned to my faith, one of the key ingredients was a practical reality of God that I discovered in His word. I learned by reading in the bible about the many characters we all know. They weren't just irrelevant people founded in myth. They were real. They were flawed. But, they interacted with God and God interacted with them. I also, found deep conviction and transforming power as the Holy Spirit began His work. The reality of God set in when I saw transformation occurring in my life; those close to me could see the transformation... transformation that was beyond my own muster and ability. I invite you to participate by offering comments in response to the podcast on the post. Discuss how you have experienced the reality of God in your life. Also, be sure to subscribe to the site for updates. You can do so in the upper right hand corner of the homepage. Here are the links to resources I mentioned in the podcast: 1) How to Study the Bible for Yourself 2) Navigator's Topical Memory System 3) Focus: Achieving Your Highest Priorities [powerpress]

God is Real! Here's my testimony about how He moved in my life. This post is much more detailed than episode 1. "I went from being a churched Christian, to a skilled backslider, to a world loving man rejecting God, to a restored believer who enjoyed the risk free comforts of church, to having a full-fledged passion to unashamedly proclaim Jesus Christ crucified, dead and risen. After all, if as in the words of Paul, this message ”… is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believe then who am I to not proclaim it in both my life and words?" What a bumpy road that was! Was yours? I really discovered the reality of God in His Word. That is the topic of our next podcast. Stay tuned! I welcome your comments and stay tuned as our next podcast will discuss one of the themes that is raised in my testimony - the reality of God in our lives and the bible. [powerpress]

We all have a life story. Don't we? Mine brought me to a decision point after a long, hard fall. Here, I share my baptism testimony. It summarizes the journey of my return to faith. Since I loved the pleasures of the world, that was a rocky road! Was yours? My baptism 2 years ago was not a turning point. Rather, it was a stake in the ground, a declaration that I would not turn back. This podcast is the testimony written and shared for that event. Like most baptism testimonies, it is short and a lot has happened since then. A more detailed post will be shared in the next episode. I encourage and welcome your participation. Please make comments related to the post. Be authentic when you share. Subscribe to our feeds and most especially our newsletter. This site is about ordinary people God called to extraordinary things. If you or someone you know has responded to God's call by change of occupational direction, funds their ministry or mission from their livelihood, or by significant personal sacrifice, please do drop me a note. We'd love to talk and make selected stories available to encourage others. [powerpress]