Intersection With Rose Zacharias Meeder

Shaila Visser is passionate about helping people know Jesus.  She is National Director of Alpha Canada and leads with an infectious energy, solid competence and super fun sense of humour.  You will love this conversation!  Listen in as Shaila shares about her lowest point in life and discovering where her strength would come from.  I also get to ask her what her relationships with non-Christians have taught her about God.  She is one to watch!

What does the Boston Marathon, Spiritual Development and Chiropractic Medicine have in common?  A great guy named Dr. Freddie So!  In this episode we talk about finding God in the most unlikely of places - from a forgotten Bible collecting dust on a bookshelf to the finish line of an epic race ravaged by an act of evil.  Freddie is a chiropractic doctor and also someone who takes amazing care of his body, mind and soul!  Listen in!

It will astound you to know that this extremely articulate, wise and influential woman once dropped out of high school, was addicted to drugs and spent time in jail. Her life took an astronomical turn and now she is changing the world with her preaching and teaching. She’s amazing and you will be inspired. Listen in!

Abdu Murray is convinced we live in a culture of confusion and uncertainty.  He also believes that Truth can be found.  As a former lawyer and Bible scholar, Abdu was not always a Christian.  In fact his spiritual background and family heritage were far from recognizing Jesus as a Source of Truth.  Listen in as Abdu shares about his own spiritual journey, his Christian convictions and respectfully dialogues with me about how we may think a bit differently.  

Are you hiding something?  Are you possibly hiding the “true you”?  Have you ever thought that if people knew what was really going on inside your head, they would be shocked?  DeeAnn Jeremiah is a wonderful wife, mom and has been a Christian her whole life.  For years, she sat pretty in the front row at her church playing a part that she knew was not her real authentic self.  She desperately wanted to know God’s love and God’s best and where she eventually found it will surprise you.  Here’s to peeling back the layers of image and pretend and getting real and finding God.  Listen in on our conversation and then go buy her book “Imagine - Stripping Christian Image and Living God’s abundant Real Life”.

I am imagining a day when people who suffer from depression and anxiety feel ONLY depressed and sad and DO NOT feel shame.  I wonder if that day will come.  This day is certainly not that day.  There is stigma and judgment and negative bias towards mental ill-health and because there is this unspoken overlay, it makes it all worse.  Meet Jordan Berta - an extraordinary guy with courage and a huge heart.  His personal struggle with depression and anxiety gives him the right to speak on it's behalf and speak up he does - for all of us.  We all need to hear his message.  

As the saying goes - we are sure of two things in life - death and taxes.  It would be a stretch to produce an episode on this show on the topic of the intersection of taxes and faith - although I might surprise you one day!  That being said - today we talk about the "other" certainty - death, and we actually honour the very personal story of Cheryl Behan and her husband John. John, with the help of a medical team, pre-determined the day of his dying.  Although this subject has been a controversial one in the medical field, I sit down with Cheryl to hear her story of how she supported her husband through this very difficult and spiritual time.

Life is hard and the difficulties often begin in childhood.  Whether it is circumstances of abuse or neglect, shame or lack of support, many people have experienced adverse childhood events that mark them for life.  Em Dyson, a respected professional psychotherapist shares about her traumatic upbringing and how, over time, she experienced help and hope and healing.  

Marriage can be hard work at the best of times - imagine how difficult it is when your spouse is struggling with depression. Even talking about mental illness can still be so taboo, especially in our churches. Danielle discovered this when her husband was diagnosed with depression - she wanted to help, but how? It wasn't easy as she slowly watched him drift away from life, their marriage, and family. Unfortunately mental illness affects so many of us - depression and mental illness is everywhere and we need to know what to do when someone close to us is going through this. That's when we need each other most. Hear all about this firsthand from Danielle Foisy.

It's episode 34! Jared Brock is a man of many talents, including growing a beard. So he wrote a book about it - well sort of. His latest book, Bearded Gospel Men, represents his epic quest for manliness and godliness. He profiles men throughout history (who happen to be bearded, probably) who boldly stood for their spiritual convictions. This is what Jared wishes for every man today (and women too). The book will inspire you and our conversation will challenge you and  probably make you laugh too. I hope it will make you think differently about God and beards.

If it's one thing that has come out of our digital world its the ready access to pornography. There's often a tragic human story behind those images. Michelle and Jared Brock have committed their lives to bringing Hope to the Sold, shedding light on this industry and culture which traffics in the lives of vulnerable human beings - children and women in particular. I think you will find this interview enlightening and I hope it inspires you to learn more about their work. Michelle and Jared have brought their work to us via the documentaries Red Light, Green Light and Over 18.

Sometimes it's good to approach things with a somewhat lighter perspective, even when it's something so deep and profound as your personal faith. Join me as I interview Phil Callaway - author, radio host and acclaimed speaker who travels the world to make it, well, a little happier.

Hey podcasts listeners. So this was fun! I was invited by Faithstrong Today to interview Holley Gerth - author of Fiercehearted, her latest book. I loved reading her book and it so challenged me to be brave as I follow Jesus. I love how Holley doesn't just write these words, but also lives them. Together we have an honest discussion about what it means to be a fierce-hearted follower of Jesus, I am certain it will challenge you as well. And if you want to catch the video version - look me up on Faith Strong Today where you'll find not only my podcasts but many others as well.

Whenever I get an opportunity to have a great conversation with a "local" hero - I jump at it. So when Gill Tillman took me up on my request to have her interviewed on my podcast I was so excited. I find Gill so inspiring - she seems to always go above and beyond for our community. In so many ways she embodies what Jesus would do. So I wanted to know if there was a spiritual angle to Gill and her desire to help people - where did that come from, what continues to motivate her today and how does she see the spiritual side of her influencing the practical, helping side? Find out more as we talk about these things and more. You'll love Gill's story.

When our faith is strong and grounded it can shock us when we need it most. When there's every reason to cry and scream in sadness or anger, God brings that proverbial peace that passes understanding. This peace can only be understood when you are in the middle of receiving it. Jay and Steph's story is a heart-wrenching story. I hope you listen to it and reflect on your own faith for a moment. It's impossible to imagine how we might react in similar circumstances - but may it cause us to reflect on how we react in day to day events, so that if God ever puts us into a much bigger and deeper moment we will automatically turn to Him for all we need when we need Him most.

Hey everyone, welcome to episode 28! I've really enjoyed tackling the topic of people journeying from one faith perspective to another. Here I connect with Jared who came from Mormonism to mainstream Christianity. I wonder, is that change a 90 degree turn or a complete 180? What better way to find out than to talk to someone who has come through that experience! Jared is open and honest as he shares his life story with us - a wonderfully candid and open discussion of the ups and downs and the joy he finds in his spiritual life.

In this episode I share with you Robert Singh's story. Robert grew up in an intellectual  Hindu family. His pursuit for truth and faith eventually led him to find Christ. As someone who has always grown up in a pre-dominantly Christian culture, I'm always fascinated by what draws people from other faiths to accept Jesus. How does the story of Jesus intersect with the Hindu story? How hard is it to leave one way of life which belongs to your family, and follow a new path? Find out how it happened for Robert.

Welcome to the 26th episode of Intersection. It's been a year since we launched Intersection! I'm happy today to sit down with Matt Miles and talk about his response to being called from a career in the corporate world to a career with the church he loves. To do so he had to challenge accepting the status quo and take a risk - or what he refers to as "challenging the inertia". We then talk church - and what he sees as his vision for the church in our current culture. I am certain you will come away with some challenging thoughts - are you being called to challenge the inertia?

Meet Cori, a woman of remarkable faith and with an incredible journey. How would you respond to tragedy? Would you blame God or eventually come to see the good in even the most heartbreaking circumstances? Cori found comfort through God in a mysterious and beautiful way - showing us once again that we should never limit God and how he might reveal Himself to us when we need Him most.

If there's something that's dominated the news cycle over the past year, it's the US election. Unfortunately it's been a polarizing and divisive issue. As a Canadian I try to make sense of it, and as a Christian it's difficult to understand how someone with President's Trump's personality resonates so much with evangelical Christians.  So instead of giving up, I jumped on a great opportunity to actually sit down with someone who is right in the middle of this. Leesa Donner is a US journalist and a Christian. She support the current administration. So of course she's someone I want to talk to, to understand and listen to. I don't want to debate her, I just want to find out why she believes what she believes - without judgment - as one human being to another. I hope our dialogue inspires you to reach across the great political divide - whatever side you are on - and listen to someone else's perspective. (*P.S: my apologies for the quality of our Skype conversation - we had a poor connection, but I wanted to preserve the spontaneity of our first conversation. I think you'll enjoy this episode nonetheless.)

It's funny how sometimes we discover God through the most serendipitous circumstances. Julian was just going about his business when he was working his daytime job at the local theater. Meanwhile a local church was just going about its business at the local theater too. As he watched the church setting up week in and week out it was no wonder that he would lean in every once in a while to find out what these people were all about. What he discovered has renewed his life and passion for God and the local church and given him that all-important sense of belonging which has given him a new lease on life. Find out how it all happened when I talk to Julian in episode 23. I think it will inspire you to know that sometimes it's not the messages or the music at church which initially catch people's attention.

Life can be a drag, and for Justin - he was dragged right down to the bottom. And when he wasn't even looking for God in his life of substance abuse and drug trips, God literally rescued him from the depths of that experience. And while it wasn't smooth sailing the whole way out of that life, God has brought Justin to a new life in Him. Now a committed Christian following Jesus passionately, his life is better than he could ever have imagined. I think this episode will inspire you, or you give you hope, that no matter how far away from God you are, God wants to rescue you.

In this episode I have a really frank and honest discussion with James Shelley - a former pastor who grew up in a Christian home. James started questioning basic tenets of the Christian faith as a teenager and always had doubts even as he pursued a career in the ministry. But the doubts eventually led to a belief that proving God, our really any faith system for that matter, was impossible. We talk about the inner conflict that this caused for James and how he has come to terms with it. Could you have an open conversation with someone who has walked away from the faith you hold so dear?

Sometimes you just never know when a good conversation is gonna happen. The other day just a mundane treadmill workout at the local gym led to a deep  conversation with my friend who was running on the treadmill next to me. As she started sharing her thoughts on God we stumbled on some deep thoughts about how we view God, how He speaks to us, and how relevant He is on a day to day level. I thought I had some great ideas here for my next podcast episode and asked Ines to record our conversation the next week. But as we started recording, we stumbled on even deeper ideas as Ines shared about some really traumatic experiences she had as a teenager and how she carries those burdens as something given to her by God to bear...... wow, what a conversation we end up having. I invite you to listen in - episode 20, where real life and faith collide.

Welcome to Episode 19 of Intersection. Today I sit down for a coffee chat with my good friend (and neighbour!) Mike Shard. I respect Mike so much for his intelligent mind and unique kindness. I also love how he is so willing to dialogue about faith and spirituality and dive into those "deeper" questions. With his career experience as both  lawyer and police officer, he is well-positioned to offer thoughtful insight into understanding conflict and the human condition and how it all relates to our search for happiness and meaning in life. Although Mike doesn't like to label himself, he says his faith position falls somewhere between atheism and agnosticism.  I think this episode is just another example of how when two people of different faith perspectives open up and speak honestly, without judgement, some amazing things can happen.  This episode will challenge and better equip you to have these types of conversations yourself.  Enjoy!

We all know we will die someday, but for most of us it seems so distant. Until one day you are in your doctor's office and you get the diagnosis. Some of those conversations lead to hope and a will to fight, but others offer no hope for recovery. What would you do if you know the end was so close? In this episode meet Anne, who  finds herself face to face with a terminal diagnosis - but she does have a hope which for some of us may be hard to imagine. I hope this episode causes you to reflect on your own mortality and the one who gives us life here on earth, but also for all of eternity.

Sometimes life can take such dramatic turns. It's helpful to look back then and see the twisting and turning path you were just on. Julie's life was on such a path - the tragic circumstance of how she lost her fiancé and then met her husband Marty, and in the process discovering that she was no longer in charge of her life - God was. Marty and Julie's story will leave you amazed how God can show up at times and in ways we least expect when we search for answers to some of life's deepest questions.

Sometimes I hear someone's story and I am astounded how people can possibly come out of those circumstances. Diane went through a period of profound loss and grief, it seems like everything was taken from her. But in the process she rediscovers God - a personal God. And even in that time of terrible loss, she finds the courage to give to others a gift of life. Diane's story brought tears of sadness and joy at the same time, and I pray it will encourage you to look beyond yourself  - just like Diane did.

It must be hard to be a Christian in the business world - balancing your own ethics against those of our culture. It must be even more difficult when that business is a charity. In this episode you will meet Neil Hetherington. Neil is a Christian who made a career change from the real estate industry to the board rooms of some of the best known charities in our country - including Habitat for Humanity and Dixon-Hall. Neil has always been guided by the notion of "heart to God, hand to man" and discusses candidly, with honesty and vulnerability, the ups and downs of living this statement to its full potential. See how his faith intersects with the real world of business.

All your life you dream of meeting someone with whom you want to start a family. Meet Navin and Christy,a wonderful Christian couple, who wanted to have children but couldn't. So when they finally decided to adopt a child - it should have all worked out. Right? Not quite. In this episode of Intersection you'll hear about their incredible joy followed by heart-wrenching loss. Navin and Christy share openly and honestly about some hard questions they asked themselves and God. And you'll be encouraged by how they came through this dramatic chapter in their lives.

How do you respond to indescribable loss? Or cope, when you feel like God has taken one of your most prized possessions from you. In this episode I interview Sharon Kelsall. Sharon talks about how her and her family's life turned upside down one December night when she received that phone call which every parent dreads. Anger, rejection, isolation would all have been understandable reactions. Instead she describes something completely different and comes to embrace that peace that "passes all understanding".

Welcome to episode 12 of Intersection! Today I sit down with Canadian Olympic marathon runner Krista Duchene. She returned a few months ago from the Rio games where she ran an incredible marathon in the searing heat. But Krista is not just a runner, she's a mom and wife, and she's a Christian. In this episode Krista describes her journey to the Olympics and all the training and discipline that requires, and the absolute joy and accomplishment of crossing the finish line in Rio and how, in the end, nothing compares to the life she has found in Christ. What a perspective. I'm certain you will love this episode whether you are a runner or just appreciate the Olympic athletes as a spectator. 

This episode of Intersection is a little different. Normally we can relate to the people I interview since they are usually from Canada and often live lives similar to ours. But today I interview Josephine a young woman from Uganda who has been through hardship that some of us can't even imagine - living in the face of fear day in and day out. Yet she leans heavily on God, whom she credits for her perseverance and for bringing her to her current place in life where she assists International Justice Mission (ijm.org) in bringing justice to some of the darkest places in the world. I also speak with IJM's Mark Wollenberg about this incredible organization.

This episode is a bonus podcast episode with country music star Dani Strong. In episode 10 I talked to Dani about her personal journey of faith - how she came to be a Christian. Dani just released her first album two weeks ago, debuting at #1 on iTunes. In this episode I talk with her about what it has been like being a Christian in the music industry. How does a career in music and entertainment intersect with faith? I wanted to know! Listen in on another exciting conversation with Dani Strong.

What an opportunity to hear the real-life faith story of Dani Strong. I love how Dani shares her story with such enthusiasm: how she grew up knowing about God and then experiencing Him for real as a young woman. And now she is an amazing country music artist who's just released her first album: Time To Breathe. It was great to chat with Dani about her faith and to hear her share one of her awesome songs, unplugged, in my living room. Listen to the end!

Episode 9 of Intersection with Rose Zacharias Meeder introduces Toni Nieuwhof who describes coming to faith and a personal struggle with depression, anxiety, insomnia and marital struggle. She describes being angry at God and then reclaiming His love for her. This episode should provide hope and encouragement for anyone who finds that in the busyness of life, depression can quickly gain a foothold, and relationships can fall apart. It's in times like these that we need to rely on all of our resources - friends, friendship, counselling, medication, and of course God and his redemptive power - to help see us through to the other side.

My interview with Julie is an honest conversation about life taking a very difficult turn and yet choosing to walk in the pain of it.  Julie shares about her challenging journey and choosing to surrender the outcome to God.  

Marissa and Ann continue their no holds barred approach in part 2 of our candid interview on Marissa's transgendered journey  

This week Rose has an intimate and no holds barred conversation with one couple's transgendered journey.    

This week Rose interviews Sue, focusing on her thoughts on spiritual nudges and an experience of Christian judgement & exclusivity. 

A former addict talks to Rose about his personal encounter with Jesus Christ and how it molded him into the man he is proud to call himself today.

Dmitry Guller, a former devout Muslim, shares his personal faith journey and how own thoughts, criticisms, and hesitations about Jesus Christ.

A woman battling cancer meets God in the most unlikely of places.

One woman’s gripping story of a terrifying and debilitating depression and how her encounter with Jesus revolutionized her to becoming “woman of the year”.

Welcome to Intersections with Rose Zacharias! Launching on July 1st, we'll examine where life and faith collide, together.