In His Grip

Mental Illness. The very words chill our souls. Yet, millions of people struggle with mental illness every minute of every day. In this powerful, transparent interview, one family describes their extraordinary battle to find stability when their family life revolves around the insecurity of a wife and mother diagnosed with Bipolar illness. The purpose of these resources is to offer help and hope to those who struggle with “secret” pain, those difficult life crises that are hard to understand or discuss, harder still to experience. Mental illness is perhaps one of the loneliest and most isolating of life crises. This family shares their own story with hopes their lives will offer help and hope to others who fight every day to find purpose. This interview is also for those who love someone broken by mental illness. It is our prayer that many will find help and hope in

Jerry was born with Cerebral Palsy, but Joan had worked with people who have disabilities throughout her life, so she thought she knew what she was signing up for when they were married over twenty years ago. In this transparent interview, Joan and Jerry share the challenges of marriage and disability, but you might be surprised at what they describe as some of the greatest challenges. Listen in as Joan and Jerry not only offer hope to people with disabilities and to parents of children with disabilities, but also remind us that the dreams of people with disabilities aren't much different than anyone else. This conversation is not just for people with disabilities!

Aging is a season of loss on many levels. Married women fear losing their spouse or outliving their children. In fact, today there are 13.6 million widows in America, and about 700,000 women become a widow in the U.S. each year. Single women who have never married can fear being alone in the last years of life. In this conversation with Sharon Betters, seventy-two-year old Jerdone Davis frankly shares some of the emotional challenges of anticipating aging alone, including addressing how we can prepare for this season while we are younger and how can we handle the fears of being alone, especially in the last season of our lives. No matter your marital status, Jerdone's recommendations for preparing for the last season of life will encourage you to be intentional in taking steps to make things easier for loved ones after your death. In the book co-authored by Susan Hunt and Sharon Betters, Aging with Grace, Flourishing in an Anti-Aging Culture, each chapter ends with a story-teller who is at least seventy years old. Each woman gives the readers a glimpse into what aging with grace looks like for her. One of those storytellers is Jerdone Davis. In a five-minute video for the companion series Aging with Grace, Ask an Older Woman, Jerdone answered the question:  How do you deal with loneliness and fear as an aging single woman?

In this conversation with Sharon Betters, Miho Kahn and her husband share the story of Miho's journey into a world of drugs, violence and abuse. At the age of fourteen, Miho pushed against the boundaries of her parents' quiet life and struck out on her own, telling her sister, “Don't try to find me.” As you listen, you might think, “This story could be a compelling movie” as you imagine a young girl hitch-hiking alone across America and exposing herself to danger and abuse. Miho shares the story of her drug addiction, rape, co-dependency, abortion - and all of this happened before she was seventeen years old. Miho transparently shares her journey and how she found peace and direction in a personal relationship to Jesus.

David The Shepherd Warrior This series focuses on the life of David. Why should we study the life of this man? David's story is a picture of Messianic typology. We see in David the struggle against the flesh that is so typical in all of us. And we will see what a man after God's own heart looks like. We start in 1 Samuel 16 where the Israelites cry for a king. It is a period of hopeless humanism, void of leadership. The people choose a man based on outward appearance, electability and sound bites. They chose Saul, tall, dark and handsome. Saul was a good looking man, but he lacked character. He was prone to hot tempered outbursts, bouts of intense depression and capable of incredible evil, jealousy, control, obsession with fame and even murder. God gives them Saul. But waiting in the wings is a shepherd boy, David.

Is it ever ok to question God's love or wisdom, especially when you love and serve Him but experience tremendous loss? Dr. Frank A. James, President and Professor of Historical Theology at Missio Seminary in Pennsylvania joins Dr. Chuck F. Betters to talk about this very question. Frank's story of loss started when his younger brother, Kelly, was trapped in a snow cave on Mt. Hood and an unyielding blizzard prevented rescue. News outlets from all over the world covered the fear and anguish of Frank's family as they waited for news about Kelly. Frank describes the emotional roller coaster of hope, fear, confusion, despair and lament as they waited and then as they realized Kelly would not survive. As a professor, author, seminary president, how is it possible Frank struggled with hard theological questions about suffering and lament. Frank's transparency will encourage you to better understand how God welcomes your questions and holds you tightly in His grip when you struggle to understand His purposes.

David The Shepherd Warrior This series focuses on the life of David. Why should we study the life of this man? David's story is a picture of Messianic typology. We see in David the struggle against the flesh that is so typical in all of us. And we will see what a man after God's own heart looks like. We start in 1 Samuel 16 where the Israelites cry for a king. It is a period of hopeless humanism, void of leadership. The people choose a man based on outward appearance, electability and sound bites. They chose Saul, tall, dark and handsome. Saul was a good looking man, but he lacked character. He was prone to hot tempered outbursts, bouts of intense depression and capable of incredible evil, jealousy, control, obsession with fame and even murder. God gives them Saul. But waiting in the wings is a shepherd boy, David.

Marissa Bondurant joins Sharon Betters to share how her caregiving journey started when her family received a devastating diagnosis for her four-year-old daughter. Not only does she have comfort to offer caregivers, but her story through the land of childhood cancer will also encourage us. Marissa takes listeners deep into her journey of caring for not just one child but two children diagnosed with cancer.  Her passion for helping other caregivers care for themselves shows up in her book, Who Cares for You? Whether you are a caregiver, love someone who is, or perhaps have a child battling cancer, this conversation is for you. Take Marissa with you on a walk, on your way to work, or running your carpool. Listen and share.

David The Shepherd Warrior This series focuses on the life of David. Why should we study the life of this man? David's story is a picture of Messianic typology. We see in David the struggle against the flesh that is so typical in all of us. And we will see what a man after God's own heart looks like. We start in 1 Samuel 16 where the Israelites cry for a king. It is a period of hopeless humanism, void of leadership. The people choose a man based on outward appearance, electability and sound bites. They chose Saul, tall, dark and handsome. Saul was a good looking man, but he lacked character. He was prone to hot tempered outbursts, bouts of intense depression and capable of incredible evil, jealousy, control, obsession with fame and even murder. God gives them Saul. But waiting in the wings is a shepherd boy, David.

We all want to be beautiful and successful. Often this desire pushes us off a cliff into concluding we are never enough. And sometimes these feelings lead us into addictions in our pursuit of beauty and success. At least 30 million people of all ages and genders suffer from an eating disorder in the United States. Perhaps you are one of them or you know someone suffering from an eating disorder. In this Help & Hope interview, Sarah Ivill talks with Sharon Betters about her own struggle with an eating disorder and how it reflected her view that she was never enough. But an eating disorder is not the only addiction resulting from feeling inadequate. With great compassion, Sarah discusses some of the lies that feed into the feeling that we are never enough, the need to get to the root of the lies and how an eating disorder is an addiction that can take a long time to break. Though you may have no experience with an eating disorder, the truths that Sarah shares apply to any place in our lives where we feel we are not enough. 

David The Shepherd Warrior This series focuses on the life of David. Why should we study the life of this man? David's story is a picture of Messianic typology. We see in David the struggle against the flesh that is so typical in all of us. And we will see what a man after God's own heart looks like. We start in 1 Samuel 16 where the Israelites cry for a king. It is a period of hopeless humanism, void of leadership. The people choose a man based on outward appearance, electability and sound bites. They chose Saul, tall, dark and handsome. Saul was a good looking man, but he lacked character. He was prone to hot tempered outbursts, bouts of intense depression and capable of incredible evil, jealousy, control, obsession with fame and even murder. God gives them Saul. But waiting in the wings is a shepherd boy, David.

Lou Priolo says we are experiencing an epidemic of loneliness. In this conversation with Sharon Betters and Chuck L. Betters, Lou defines loneliness and encourages us to realize loneliness is painful but it can also bring blessings. He shares stories about people in the Bible who experience deep loneliness and points out that many of the Psalmists expressed their own loneliness. Knowing others have walked the path of loneliness before us helps us realize we are not alone and there is help. The loneliness that is not addressed can lead to other emotions taking up residence in our hearts, such as disappointment in our friends, anger, fear, and paranoia. Unless we deal with the root cause of loneliness, we are destined to view all relationships through the grid of those emotions. Listen and share!

David The Shepherd Warrior This series focuses on the life of David. Why should we study the life of this man? David's story is a picture of Messianic typology. We see in David the struggle against the flesh that is so typical in all of us. And we will see what a man after God's own heart looks like. We start in 1 Samuel 16 where the Israelites cry for a king. It is a period of hopeless humanism, void of leadership. The people choose a man based on outward appearance, electability and sound bites. They chose Saul, tall, dark and handsome. Saul was a good looking man, but he lacked character. He was prone to hot tempered outbursts, bouts of intense depression and capable of incredible evil, jealousy, control, obsession with fame and even murder. God gives them Saul. But waiting in the wings is a shepherd boy, David.

Barbara Juliani and Jane Anne Wilson join Sharon Betters to talk about those feelings every mother experiences at one time or another. This conversation follows an interview with Barbara about prodigal children. Barbara and her father Jack Miller co-authored Come Back, Barbara, a raw and transparent story of Barbara's rebellion against her parents and their faith and her journey “back home”. Whenever a child rebels or disappoints parents, mothers often feel ashamed and as though their child's behavior is a reflection on their parenting skills. “Was I too soft, too hard, spanked when I shouldn't have, neglected a specific need in my child?” Where do moms go with these feelings? If you are that mother, this conversation will encourage you as you realize you are not alone and there is a way toward freedom.

David The Shepherd Warrior This series focuses on the life of David. Why should we study the life of this man? David's story is a picture of Messianic typology. We see in David the struggle against the flesh that is so typical in all of us. And we will see what a man after God's own heart looks like. We start in 1 Samuel 16 where the Israelites cry for a king. It is a period of hopeless humanism, void of leadership. The people choose a man based on outward appearance, electability and sound bites. They chose Saul, tall, dark and handsome. Saul was a good looking man, but he lacked character. He was prone to hot tempered outbursts, bouts of intense depression and capable of incredible evil, jealousy, control, obsession with fame and even murder. God gives them Saul. But waiting in the wings is a shepherd boy, David.

Do these words haunt you: "Mom, Dad, I don't want your rules and morals. I don't want to act like a Christian anymore! And I'm not going to," Barbara Juliani (then Barbara Miller) made this declaration at the age 18. As her father desperately attempted to reason with her, Barbara grew more resentful, choosing a path of immorality that only deepened her parents' pain. Such a declaration from a child, no matter their age, creates havoc and soul-searching in the hearts of their parents, who often ask, “What did I do wrong?” In this conversation with Sharon Betters and Jane Anne Wilson, Barbara Juliani shares her story and addresses some of the ways parents take on the guilt of their children and responsibility for their decisions. You might be surprised by some of her conclusions. Her dad, Jack Miller wrote: "I am not ignorant of human depravity," writes C. John Miller, "but I had long denied that it could exist in our family." That reality, however, forced him to confront his own sin, seek forgiveness, admit his inability to change his wayward daughter, and begin loving Barbara on God's terms. In their book, Come Back, Barbara, "Jack" Miller and Barbara Miller Juliani chronicle their journey from grief and conflict to joyful reconciliation. Come Back, Barbara is thus an irresistible portrayal of God's grace to the Millers and us all. Our conversation with Barbara reminds broken-hearted parents about the freedom of experiencing such grace in the midst of their child's rebellion. Help & Hope Story: Motherhood, Shame & Guilt with Barbara Juliani and Jane Anne Wilson For more about Barbara's journey as a prodigal child, check out Come Back, Barbara. Come Back, Barbara

David The Shepherd Warrior This series focuses on the life of David. Why should we study the life of this man? David's story is a picture of Messianic typology. We see in David the struggle against the flesh that is so typical in all of us. And we will see what a man after God's own heart looks like. We start in 1 Samuel 16 where the Israelites cry for a king. It is a period of hopeless humanism, void of leadership. The people choose a man based on outward appearance, electability and sound bites. They chose Saul, tall, dark and handsome. Saul was a good looking man, but he lacked character. He was prone to hot tempered outbursts, bouts of intense depression and capable of incredible evil, jealousy, control, obsession with fame and even murder. God gives them Saul. But waiting in the wings is a shepherd boy, David.

Do these words haunt you: "Mom, Dad, I don't want your rules and morals. I don't want to act like a Christian anymore! And I'm not going to," Barbara Juliani (then Barbara Miller) made this declaration at the age 18. As her father desperately attempted to reason with her, Barbara grew more resentful, choosing a path of immorality that only deepened her parents' pain. Such a declaration from a child, no matter their age, creates havoc and soul-searching in the hearts of their parents, who often ask, “What did I do wrong?” In this conversation with Sharon Betters and Jane Anne Wilson, Barbara Juliani shares her story and addresses some of the ways parents take on the guilt of their children and responsibility for their decisions. You might be surprised by some of her conclusions. Her dad, Jack Miller wrote: "I am not ignorant of human depravity," writes C. John Miller, "but I had long denied that it could exist in our family." That reality, however, forced him to confront his own sin, seek forgiveness, admit his inability to change his wayward daughter, and begin loving Barbara on God's terms. In their book, Come Back, Barbara, "Jack" Miller and Barbara Miller Juliani chronicle their journey from grief and conflict to joyful reconciliation. Come Back, Barbara is thus an irresistible portrayal of God's grace to the Millers and us all. Our conversation with Barbara reminds broken-hearted parents about the freedom of experiencing such grace in the midst of their child's rebellion. Help & Hope Story: Motherhood, Shame & Guilt with Barbara Juliani and Jane Anne Wilson For more about Barbara's journey as a prodigal child, check out Come Back, Barbara. Come Back, Barbara

David The Shepherd Warrior This series focuses on the life of David. Why should we study the life of this man? David's story is a picture of Messianic typology. We see in David the struggle against the flesh that is so typical in all of us. And we will see what a man after God's own heart looks like. We start in 1 Samuel 16 where the Israelites cry for a king. It is a period of hopeless humanism, void of leadership. The people choose a man based on outward appearance, electability and sound bites. They chose Saul, tall, dark and handsome. Saul was a good looking man, but he lacked character. He was prone to hot tempered outbursts, bouts of intense depression and capable of incredible evil, jealousy, control, obsession with fame and even murder. God gives them Saul. But waiting in the wings is a shepherd boy, David.

David The Shepherd Warrior This series focuses on the life of David. Why should we study the life of this man? David's story is a picture of Messianic typology. We see in David the struggle against the flesh that is so typical in all of us. And we will see what a man after God's own heart looks like. We start in 1 Samuel 16 where the Israelites cry for a king. It is a period of hopeless humanism, void of leadership. The people choose a man based on outward appearance, electability and sound bites. They chose Saul, tall, dark and handsome. Saul was a good looking man, but he lacked character. He was prone to hot tempered outbursts, bouts of intense depression and capable of incredible evil, jealousy, control, obsession with fame and even murder. God gives them Saul. But waiting in the wings is a shepherd boy, David.

Google mother-in-law jokes and you can take your pick of numerous sites that offer laughter at the expense of the mother-in-law. Becoming a mother-in-law after pouring your life into your son might be one of the most difficult challenges some women face. Perhaps family conflict is one of the hardest places to experience help and hope. This conversation between Annie Chapman and Sharon Betters will help guide daughters-in-law and mothers-in-law through the sometimes difficult maze of “sharing” a man. Annie Chapman is the author of The Mother-In-Law Dance and knows from experience how challenging it can be to get along with your mother-in-law. She also has married sons so she brings great wisdom on family relationships that might be just what you need to find a bridge into your “in-law's” heart or build an even stronger relationship. Can two women love the same man and still get along? Annie says yes! And she offers sound advice for those times when only one party wants to have that friendship.

David The Shepherd Warrior This series focuses on the life of David. Why should we study the life of this man? David's story is a picture of Messianic typology. We see in David the struggle against the flesh that is so typical in all of us. And we will see what a man after God's own heart looks like. We start in 1 Samuel 16 where the Israelites cry for a king. It is a period of hopeless humanism, void of leadership. The people choose a man based on outward appearance, electability and sound bites. They chose Saul, tall, dark and handsome. Saul was a good looking man, but he lacked character. He was prone to hot tempered outbursts, bouts of intense depression and capable of incredible evil, jealousy, control, obsession with fame and even murder. God gives them Saul. But waiting in the wings is a shepherd boy, David.

Twenty-one surgeries by age thirteen. Years in the hospital. Verbal and physical bullying from schoolmates. Multiple miscarriages as a young wife. The death of a child. A debilitating progressive disease. Riveting pain. Abandonment. Unwanted divorce. How can one woman survive let alone thrive when she experiences such crashing waves of pain? In this conversation with Sharon Betters, Vaneetha Rendall Risner, author of The Scars that Have Shaped Me; How God meets us in Suffering, has experienced all these life crises and more. Rather than despair and giving up when wave after wave of loss hits, Veneetha encourages us to allow suffering to draw us into the heart of God.

David The Shepherd Warrior This series focuses on the life of David. Why should we study the life of this man? David's story is a picture of Messianic typology. We see in David the struggle against the flesh that is so typical in all of us. And we will see what a man after God's own heart looks like. We start in 1 Samuel 16 where the Israelites cry for a king. It is a period of hopeless humanism, void of leadership. The people choose a man based on outward appearance, electability and sound bites. They chose Saul, tall, dark and handsome. Saul was a good looking man, but he lacked character. He was prone to hot tempered outbursts, bouts of intense depression and capable of incredible evil, jealousy, control, obsession with fame and even murder. God gives them Saul. But waiting in the wings is a shepherd boy, David.

What is a grandmother's role in the lives of her grandchildren? How can she pass on a legacy of faith? What if she is estranged from her grandchildren, or they don't seem to be interested in having a relationship with her? What are some practical ways a grandmother can intentionally pursue a friendship with her grands and what if they don't respond to her efforts? What about those envious feelings when a grandmother sees all the beautiful social media posts of the perfect grandmother interacting with her grandchildren? How about guilt over not investing in her grandchildren? Is there a way to influence our grands without any interaction with them? In this conversation with Sharon Betters, Kathy March, and Pam Ferriss respond to these questions and much more.  Do you love your grandchildren? This conversation will help equip you to pray intentionally. What a gift for your grandchildren to say, “My Grandmother is Praying for Me.”

David The Shepherd Warrior This series focuses on the life of David. Why should we study the life of this man? David's story is a picture of Messianic typology. We see in David the struggle against the flesh that is so typical in all of us. And we will see what a man after God's own heart looks like. We start in 1 Samuel 16 where the Israelites cry for a king. It is a period of hopeless humanism, void of leadership. The people choose a man based on outward appearance, electability and sound bites. They chose Saul, tall, dark and handsome. Saul was a good looking man, but he lacked character. He was prone to hot tempered outbursts, bouts of intense depression and capable of incredible evil, jealousy, control, obsession with fame and even murder. God gives them Saul. But waiting in the wings is a shepherd boy, David.

Almost 40% of young adults live with their parents or grandparents. This is the highest percentage in 70 years. The last time young adults did life in such proximity to their parents or grandparents was just before the Depression. Then it was out of financial need. Today it seems there is a whole different perspective on the part of the young adults. Dr. Chuck Betters talks to Jim Burns, author of Doing Life with Your Adult Children about some of the challenges for parents as they transition from parenting children to parenting young adults. Jim gives practical advice and hopeful encouragement for this tough yet rewarding transition. If you have an adult child, you know that parenting doesn't stop when a child reaches the age of eighteen. In many ways, it gets more complicated. Both your heart and your head are as involved as ever, whether your child lives under your roof or rarely stays in contact. In this conversation and in his book, parenting expert Jim Burns helps us navigate one of the richest and most challenging seasons of parenting. Speaking from his own personal and professional experience, Burns offers practical answers to questions often asked by parents of adult children.

David The Shepherd Warrior This series focuses on the life of David. Why should we study the life of this man? David's story is a picture of Messianic typology. We see in David the struggle against the flesh that is so typical in all of us. And we will see what a man after God's own heart looks like. We start in 1 Samuel 16 where the Israelites cry for a king. It is a period of hopeless humanism, void of leadership. The people choose a man based on outward appearance, electability and sound bites. They chose Saul, tall, dark and handsome. Saul was a good looking man, but he lacked character. He was prone to hot tempered outbursts, bouts of intense depression and capable of incredible evil, jealousy, control, obsession with fame and even murder. God gives them Saul. But waiting in the wings is a shepherd boy, David.

You start your day thinking it will be like any other. And then a text with four words, “Eva not breathing. Pray.” Within hours, the unexpected death of your daughter propels you and your family down into the deepest sorrow you have ever experienced. In this conversation with Sharon Betters, Mel Lawrenz introduces us to his beloved daughter Eva and how her unexpected death led his family into the Land of Grief. In this conversation, Mel talks about giving freedom to people to grieve their way, how lament is a gift, and how his theology gave him the freedom to grieve honestly as he clung to the Lord. Mel and Sharon belong to that club no one wants to join – where admission requires the loss of a child. There are treasures in the conversation for anyone in grief and for those who love them.

David The Shepherd Warrior This series focuses on the life of David. Why should we study the life of this man? David's story is a picture of Messianic typology. We see in David the struggle against the flesh that is so typical in all of us. And we will see what a man after God's own heart looks like. We start in 1 Samuel 16 where the Israelites cry for a king. It is a period of hopeless humanism, void of leadership. The people choose a man based on outward appearance, electability and sound bites. They chose Saul, tall, dark and handsome. Saul was a good looking man, but he lacked character. He was prone to hot tempered outbursts, bouts of intense depression and capable of incredible evil, jealousy, control, obsession with fame and even murder. God gives them Saul. But waiting in the wings is a shepherd boy, David.

Pastor Bob Allums, husband and father, learned at thirty-two years of age that he faced the battle of his life against throat and mouth cancer. The possibility that the disease and treatment would destroy his ability to speak, to preach and teach was real. Before the diagnosis, Bob struggled with overwhelming depression, a darkness whose roots he could not identify. In this rich conversation with Chuck Betters, Bob steps back into those frightening days and describes how that period transformed him and helped make him into the joyful man he is today. This far reaching conversation touches on the heart of suffering and will touch your heart with the help and hope of Jesus.

David The Shepherd Warrior This series focuses on the life of David. Why should we study the life of this man? David's story is a picture of Messianic typology. We see in David the struggle against the flesh that is so typical in all of us. And we will see what a man after God's own heart looks like. We start in 1 Samuel 16 where the Israelites cry for a king. It is a period of hopeless humanism, void of leadership. The people choose a man based on outward appearance, electability and sound bites. They chose Saul, tall, dark and handsome. Saul was a good looking man, but he lacked character. He was prone to hot tempered outbursts, bouts of intense depression and capable of incredible evil, jealousy, control, obsession with fame and even murder. God gives them Saul. But waiting in the wings is a shepherd boy, David.

On October 2, 2006, Marie Monville's husband entered an Amish schoolhouse in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and shot ten young girls, killing five of them before turning the gun on himself. The event shocked the nation and left many staggering under the weight of such tragedy and evil. How does a person find hope in such darkness? How does the wife of the man who perpetrated such horror rebuild her life and the lives of her children? How could she ever forgive her husband? How did the Amish community react to Marie and her family? Listen as Marie's story reveals what she learned about forgiveness and that one Light can still shine in the midnights of life.

David The Shepherd Warrior This series focuses on the life of David. Why should we study the life of this man? David's story is a picture of Messianic typology. We see in David the struggle against the flesh that is so typical in all of us. And we will see what a man after God's own heart looks like. We start in 1 Samuel 16 where the Israelites cry for a king. It is a period of hopeless humanism, void of leadership. The people choose a man based on outward appearance, electability and sound bites. They chose Saul, tall, dark and handsome. Saul was a good looking man, but he lacked character. He was prone to hot tempered outbursts, bouts of intense depression and capable of incredible evil, jealousy, control, obsession with fame and even murder. God gives them Saul. But waiting in the wings is a shepherd boy, David.

We live in a culture that idolizes youth but no matter how hard we might try, we cannot escape the fact that unless we die young, each of us will experience aging. Is it possible to be “ever growing ever green” as we age? Is sixty really the new fifty? What does it mean to flourish in old age? What if we don't have energy to do all those wonderful things we did when we were younger? When should we start preparing for old age? Is there anything glorious about growing old? In this free-flowing conversation Sharon Betters, age 70, asks Ruth Auffarth, age 88,  these questions and more. So grab a cup of coffee, a glass of iced tea, sit back and listen in as two old friends share thoughts about what it means to grow old with grace and dignity. In the book co-authored by Susan Hunt and Sharon Betters, Aging with Grace, Flourishing in an Anti-Aging Culture, each chapter ends with a story-teller who is at least seventy years old. Each woman gives the readers a glimpse into what aging with grace looks like for her. One of those storytellers is Ruth Auffarth. In a five-minute video for the companion series Aging with Grace, Ask an Older Woman, Ruth answered the question:  What two life disciplines helped prepare you for aging?

David The Shepherd Warrior This series focuses on the life of David. Why should we study the life of this man? David's story is a picture of Messianic typology. We see in David the struggle against the flesh that is so typical in all of us. And we will see what a man after God's own heart looks like. We start in 1 Samuel 16 where the Israelites cry for a king. It is a period of hopeless humanism, void of leadership. The people choose a man based on outward appearance, electability and sound bites. They chose Saul, tall, dark and handsome. Saul was a good looking man, but he lacked character. He was prone to hot tempered outbursts, bouts of intense depression and capable of incredible evil, jealousy, control, obsession with fame and even murder. God gives them Saul. But waiting in the wings is a shepherd boy, David.

We live in a culture that idolizes youth but no matter how hard we might try, we cannot escape the fact that unless we die young, each of us will experience aging. Is it possible to be “ever growing ever green” as we age? Is sixty really the new fifty? What does it mean to flourish in old age? What if we don't have energy to do all those wonderful things we did when we were younger? When should we start preparing for old age? Is there anything glorious about growing old? In this free-flowing conversation Sharon Betters, age 70, asks Ruth Auffarth, age 88,  these questions and more. So grab a cup of coffee, a glass of iced tea, sit back and listen in as two old friends share thoughts about what it means to grow old with grace and dignity. In the book co-authored by Susan Hunt and Sharon Betters, Aging with Grace, Flourishing in an Anti-Aging Culture, each chapter ends with a story-teller who is at least seventy years old. Each woman gives the readers a glimpse into what aging with grace looks like for her. One of those storytellers is Ruth Auffarth. In a five-minute video for the companion series Aging with Grace, Ask an Older Woman, Ruth answered the question:  What two life disciplines helped prepare you for aging?

David The Shepherd Warrior This series focuses on the life of David. Why should we study the life of this man? David's story is a picture of Messianic typology. We see in David the struggle against the flesh that is so typical in all of us. And we will see what a man after God's own heart looks like. We start in 1 Samuel 16 where the Israelites cry for a king. It is a period of hopeless humanism, void of leadership. The people choose a man based on outward appearance, electability and sound bites. They chose Saul, tall, dark and handsome. Saul was a good looking man, but he lacked character. He was prone to hot tempered outbursts, bouts of intense depression and capable of incredible evil, jealousy, control, obsession with fame and even murder. God gives them Saul. But waiting in the wings is a shepherd boy, David.

Abuse, deep loss, broken relationships, grief, self-inflicted pain – is it possible to experience healing from a painful past? Lauren Whitman, author of A Painful Past – Healing and Moving Forward, answers this question and much more. For instance, why would anyone want to dig up their past? Isn't it better to “let sleeping dogs lie”? Can we forgive and forget? How does our view of God influence our journey toward healing? How do you know when to ask a counselor for help? And how does having a counselor make the journey a little clearer? If you or someone you know is struggling with a painful past, please listen and then share the good news – there is hope and a way to move forward.

David The Shepherd Warrior This series focuses on the life of David. Why should we study the life of this man? David's story is a picture of Messianic typology. We see in David the struggle against the flesh that is so typical in all of us. And we will see what a man after God's own heart looks like. We start in 1 Samuel 16 where the Israelites cry for a king. It is a period of hopeless humanism, void of leadership. The people choose a man based on outward appearance, electability and sound bites. They chose Saul, tall, dark and handsome. Saul was a good looking man, but he lacked character. He was prone to hot tempered outbursts, bouts of intense depression and capable of incredible evil, jealousy, control, obsession with fame and even murder. God gives them Saul. But waiting in the wings is a shepherd boy, David.

Melanoma, the word strikes fear into the hearer, especially when it is a diagnosis for a loved one. Al Groves, a beloved professor at Westminster Seminary and his wife, Libbie, heard these words and knew life would never be the same. In this  conversation with Sharon Betters, Libbie shares the journey that her family experienced in the year after her husband Al's diagnosis of terminal cancer. She offers her family's story as a means of coming alongside of others who are struggling with cancer, God and grief, answering such questions as: * How did you tell your children? * Did you ever hit a wall where you felt you just couldn't handle all the daily responsibilities of raising your children and caring for your husband? * Al was a gifted author, beloved professor at Westminster Seminary. Did you ever question why such a gifted man who had so much more to offer had to die? * What about lament? * How important was and is your faith? How did it make a difference in the way you viewed this diagnosis? * How did people help you?

David The Shepherd Warrior This series focuses on the life of David. Why should we study the life of this man? David's story is a picture of Messianic typology. We see in David the struggle against the flesh that is so typical in all of us. And we will see what a man after God's own heart looks like. We start in 1 Samuel 16 where the Israelites cry for a king. It is a period of hopeless humanism, void of leadership. The people choose a man based on outward appearance, electability and sound bites. They chose Saul, tall, dark and handsome. Saul was a good looking man, but he lacked character. He was prone to hot tempered outbursts, bouts of intense depression and capable of incredible evil, jealousy, control, obsession with fame and even murder. God gives them Saul. But waiting in the wings is a shepherd boy, David.

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome - Can Suffering Bring Gifts? Darci and Mark Steiner's lives turned inside out and upside down when Darci nearly lost her life after a debilitating fall down the stairs in her home. She was later diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome and spent six years bedridden with such horrific pain she could not tolerate even a sheet to touch her body. Her husband, Mark, immediately took on the role of caregiver for Darci and all the extra responsibilities of raising their two little girls. In this conversation with Sharon Better, Darci and Mark freely answer questions about their struggle to find a “new normal” when Darci was incapable of caring for their girls or their home. Mark brings the unique perspective of a full-time caregiver and how Mark sometimes struggles with meeting all the needs of their children and his wife. They both share the spiritual challenges of understanding the sovereignty of God over what seem like set backs and unfair loss and how the Lord has met them in their most broken moments.  They share their story in Darci's book, Beauty Beyond the Thorns: Discovering Gifts in Suffering.  Darci and Mark have both served in ministry, Darci as a teen and women's ministry leader, as well as assisting with church plants in Denver and Los Angeles. Mark has served in full-time ministry in San Francisco and Thailand. In the late 80's Mark helped Cambodian refugees from the Khmer Rouge “killing fields" and the fighting between Cambodian guerillas and the Vietnamese army on the border of Cambodia and Thailand. He is an entrepreneur, along with caring for Darci. Connect with Darci - https://www.darcijsteiner.com/

David The Shepherd Warrior This series focuses on the life of David. Why should we study the life of this man? David's story is a picture of Messianic typology. We see in David the struggle against the flesh that is so typical in all of us. And we will see what a man after God's own heart looks like. We start in 1 Samuel 16 where the Israelites cry for a king. It is a period of hopeless humanism, void of leadership. The people choose a man based on outward appearance, electability and sound bites. They chose Saul, tall, dark and handsome. Saul was a good looking man, but he lacked character. He was prone to hot tempered outbursts, bouts of intense depression and capable of incredible evil, jealousy, control, obsession with fame and even murder. God gives them Saul. But waiting in the wings is a shepherd boy, David.

Instead of enjoying the freedom that comes with young adulthood, there is a whole population that struggles to reconcile their physical limitations with every day life. Three young adults share their own stories of dealing with delayed life plans, limited social lives, and the search for friends who “get” their physical disabilities. Tim, Stephanie, and Stephen give us a glimpse into their ongoing battles to find purpose and joy as they live each day with chronic illnesses. Their stories will encourage other young adults likewise struggling, and equip their friends and family to better understand their daily struggles.

David The Shepherd Warrior This series focuses on the life of David. Why should we study the life of this man? David's story is a picture of Messianic typology. We see in David the struggle against the flesh that is so typical in all of us. And we will see what a man after God's own heart looks like. We start in 1 Samuel 16 where the Israelites cry for a king. It is a period of hopeless humanism, void of leadership. The people choose a man based on outward appearance, electability and sound bites. They chose Saul, tall, dark and handsome. Saul was a good looking man, but he lacked character. He was prone to hot tempered outbursts, bouts of intense depression and capable of incredible evil, jealousy, control, obsession with fame and even murder. God gives them Saul. But waiting in the wings is a shepherd boy, David.

How are you feeling today? Stressed, overwhelmed, drowning in too much to do, anxiety, the rubble of broken relationships – just life? Are these feelings seasonable or do you struggle with persistent gnawing anxiety? Sometimes, something happens that feels like the straw that breaks the camel's back and we cry out, “I didn't sign up for this!” Ann Swindell, author of The Path to Peace, Comfort When You're Feeling Overwhelmed gets it!. After repeated disappointments and hurts, one day Ann declared, “I didn't sign up for this!” But that moment of hitting bottom was the beginning of seeking unshakable peace. In this conversation with Sharon Betters, Ann will be sharing some of what she learned about genuine peace, not only through her own journey but the lives of men and women in scripture. You will be mentored and encouraged in your own search for the pathway to peace.

There will always be a struggle between good and evil in our lives. The godly kings of Israel allowed compromise in their lives which resulted in a downward spiral through generations. The consequence of their sin is seen in their children and grandchildren. Are you willing to confess, renounce, and turn away from little areas of compromise in your life? The lives of your children and grandchildren may be at stake.

A little boy, abandoned by his mother, shifted from one abuse-filled foster home to another; bullied not only by kids but by some of his foster parents, beaten and sexually assaulted by numerous people tasked with being his protectors. How does this little boy find a way to grow into a man who trusts God and offers help and hope to others through his story? In this interview, Bob Petterson opens up about the terrifying loneliness of abandonment, the pain of abuse, and the memories of hateful abuse at the hands of foster parents. Is there any hope for such a child? Bob says there is, and lives out that hope every day. This story is for anyone who has experienced childhood abandonment, abuse, hatred, and separation from siblings. Yet it is also for anyone who longs to know that in this messy, broken world, there really is hope of redemption and purpose for those shattered by the abuse of others.

There will always be a struggle between good and evil in our lives. The godly kings of Israel allowed compromise in their lives which resulted in a downward spiral through generations. The consequence of their sin is seen in their children and grandchildren. Are you willing to confess, renounce, and turn away from little areas of compromise in your life? The lives of your children and grandchildren may be at stake.

A diagnosis of dementia in a loved one is frightening. Many spouses and family members face a “long goodbye” as they walk this pathway with their loved ones. In this interview Sharon Betters asks Dr. John Dunlop, author of Finding Grace in the Face of Dementia, to define dementia, the stages of dementia, what it is like to care for a loved one with dementia, and more. Dr. Dunlop's compassion and passion for equipping and caring for older people comes through in his responses. He reminds us that every person is made in the image of God and that truth needs to be the grid through which we view those with dementia and the kind of care we give.