The Pulse Of Portland

Matt Maher is coming to Portland on September 30, 2016 with Casting Crowns on The Very Next Thing Tour. Paul Van Sickle talks with Matt about the new music he is writing, having a 7 month old baby, politics, unity among churches, and we find out if Matt is Team Edward or Team Jacob. (Yes he did answer that question.) www.mattmahermusic.com

Mark Hall of Casting Crowns joins us to talk about their new album "The Very Next Thing." We also talk about touring, youth ministry, and Mark also answers some questions from Facebook. The Very Next Thing Tour with Casting Crowns, Matt Maher, and Hannah Kerr will be in Portland on September 30 at Moda Center. Tickets available at www.LMGconcerts.com. www.castingcrowns.com

January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month. Portland's 104.5 WAY FM has selected Abolition Now as our ministry of the month. www.AbolitionNow.com www.AdornedInGrace.org

Matt Maher is coming to Portland/Vancouver on January 29 at Crossroads Community Church with his Sinners and Saints Tour. We talk about creating worship music, performing vs worshiping, balancing family and road life, as well as his recent dove awards. www.MattMaherMusic.com www.LMGConcerts.com Portland.WAYFM.com

Stuart Funke, financial educator, gives us more tips for guarding your finances during uncertain economic times. Learn more at their free upcoming seminars. https://kingdomwealthfinancial.wordpress.com/events/

Stuart Funke spent 35 years in the financial industry and is now a financial educator. Find out more about what's happening in our world today and how it could effect you. https://kingdomwealthfinancial.wordpress.com/events/

Traci Matt gives some great ideas to homeschooling parents, teachers, and active families on making learning fun through field trips. It's all in her book "Let's Go!" http://tracimatt.com/about/books/

Homeschooling veteran Traci Matt talks about the things she learned along the way. Read more in her book "Don't Waste Your Time Homeschooling. 72 Things I Wish I'd Known." http://tracimatt.com/about/books/

Matthew McDaniel gives us an update on the Oregon Tall Ship and what he sees as a tremendous opportunity for the state of Oregon and young people in our region.

Kathryn Hickok of Cascade Policy Institute wraps up our conversation on school choice by also talking about the Children's Scholarship Fund. www.CascadePolicy.org

Kathryn Hickok of the Cascade Policy Institute continue the conversation on school choice. www.CascadePolicy.org

Kathryn Hickok of the Cascade Policy Institute and I start a 3 part discussion about school choice. www.CascadePolicy.org

Kathryn Hickcok of the Cascade Policy Institute talks with us about the "Oregon Promise" law, offering free state college tuition to those that qualify. www.cascadepolicy.org

Dave Hathaway talks with us about Kids Rock! A Christ-centered after school kids program in public schools

Liberty Pike of Oregon Right to Life responds to the undercover video of Planned Parent Hood with their own video that is going viral.

Pastor Pascal Kibisingo of Last Call Ministry tells us about his life and calling, what their ministry is doing, and what God has laid on his heart to share about what is happening in our country and world. http://www.lastcallministry.org/

Flash Love is holding a special meet and greet at Boomerang Coffee and Consignment shop in Vancouver, WA on Thursday 7-22 from 4-6 PM. www.FlashLove.com

Matthew McDaniel of the Oregon Tall Ship Projects brings us up to date on what is going on with the project. They need $5000 by Friday July 10 to secure the purchase of the ship. 971-388-7185 http://www.gofundme.com/oregontallship www.oregontallship.com/

We talk with Vernon Wease about Oregon being the 49th best state to make a living in 2015 while Washington is 2nd. July Unemployment numbers have been released. And how to support the long-term unemployed in your life.

Andrew Wommack is the host of The Gospel Truth on KKPZ. He also founded Charis College in Woodland Park, CO. He is coming to Portland August 6. www.awmi.net

John Charles of the Cascade Policy Institute talks with us about the new trend of calling for transparency in giving to non-profits. Should all non-profits be forced to disclose who their donors are, how much they give, and where they work like political campaigns do?

Steve Buckstein of the Cascade Policy Institute talks with us about the "Oregon Kicker." Oregonians are entitled to a tax credit if the government stays under budget. They did and now some legislators want to keep YOUR money.

Steve Buckstein of the Cascade Policy Institute discusses the battle over parents opting their kids out of Smarter Balance testing and the Federal Government threatening to pull funding from Oregon schools.

What would happen if there was a culture of generosity in our city? What if with that generosity there was a true spirit of collaboration? Imagine the possibilities. Steve Cummings, Vice President of Advancement at Multnomah University is working to make that dream a reality.

John Buckstein from the Cascade Policy Institute talks with us about the Minimum Wage Wars. There are currently 14 bills in the Oregon State legislature that deal with minimum wage issues.

Vernon Wease joins us to talk about the latest unemployment number in Oregon and across the country. We also discuss the shrinking number of people in the workforce

KKPZ has a new partnership with FaithHappenings.com and Becky Caputo and I talk about that.

Kristi Foster, Executive Director of Journey Theater Arts Group, tells us about the 4 shows that are happening over the next several weeks in the Portland/Vancouver area. There is also an opportunity for YOU to audition for their summer community show, Marry Poppins. www.JourneyTheater.org

Singer/Song Writer/Pastor Mo Leverett is coming Portland May 16 for a special concert. We talk about music and his heart for urban ministry www.MoLeverett.com

Singer/Song Writer/Pastor Mo Leverett is coming Portland May 16 for a special concert. We talk about music and his heart for urban ministry www.MoLeverett.com

Abundant Life Church is sending two missions teams out: One to Italy and one to Ecuador. We talk with Bryce and Katie about the upcoming trips. They have a fundraiser Family Scramble on June 6. www.golfalc.com

Leadercast 2015 is Friday May 8. The Satellite location in the Portland metro is going to be at North Lake Church in Camas. We talk with Pastor Brian Grant about the event and why YOU NEED to be there. www.Leadercast.com http://www.nlccamas.org/events/event/37/leadercast/2015-05-08

Medical Teams International Global Emergency & Security Advisor, Dominic Bowen, joins us from Nepal to talk about what they are experiencing and how they are helping. We also talk to MTI hear in the states and learn how we can help. www.MedicalTeams.org

Compassion Connect Executive Director Milan Homola talks about what was accomplished in our community last year through Compassion Connect. We look ahead to the new partnerships and what kind of impact the faith community can have in Portland. They are currently having a matching donation campaign called "One Voice. www.compassionconnect.com

Aging roads? New ideas! You sit in traffic every day; where's your tax money going? We talk with Reason Foundation's transportation expert Adrian Moore. He tells us what the latest innovations in road finance can mean for Oregon, your wallet, and your commute. He will be speaking as Cascade Policy Institute's special guest in Portland on April 29.

http://www.oregontallship.com/ Oregon Tall Ship Project is the business side of "Sail for Freedom". Oregon Tall Ship Project seeks to bring a Tall Ship to Oregon, one of only 2 coastal states without a tall ship program. Sail for Freedom is the non profit side where we accept donations for scholarships for young people be able to participate in sail training adventures.

We talk with Andrea of Flash Love about their upcoming event: Vancouver Go Kart Party for Foster Kids on Saturday April 25. We are going to spend the morning loving on the Foster kids and families of Clark County. PBring your families to enjoy bounce houses, food and lots of fun surprises.

We talk with Linda of GNCM Productions about their upcoming show "Stop It" Coming to PCC Cascade Campus Moriarty Arts Building on Friday April 24 at 6:30 PM

Liberty Pike of Oregon Right to Life joins us to talk about the annual ORTL Conference in Portland this weekend. She also reacts to the recent abortion law passed in Kansas and gives us an update on the Pro-Life Movement in Oregon

Alexzander CJ Adams, P.C., gives us "bankruptcy 101" and busts some myths about bankruptcy. http://portlandbk.com/ 503-278-5400

Ashleyann Burnett is making a difference to the homeless community one blanket at a time. Find out more about Hand Made to the Streets. www.HandMadeToTheStreets.com

We're talking about Job Polarization and unemployment in Oregon with Josh Lehner of Oregon Office of Economic Analysis.

Keith Schwanz, Libby Tedder Hugus, and Jason Veach are the co-authors of "Marks of the Missional Church: Ecclesial Practices for the Sake of the World." Evidence suggests that the Christian church has entered a historic transition in its relationship to the broader culture. In what some call post-Christendom, the church no longer holds an advantaged position in many places. Some Christians lament this development. Others believe that the disruptive change provides an opportunity for the churchâ??s renovation.

https://h2hcv.org Worldwide Heart to Heart Children's Village in Honduras was started by Oscar and Amy Serrano. They are taking care of orphan children. H2HCV is based state side here in the Portland area. Hear about the amazing story of how God is working through this ministry.

We talk with Jillana Goble of Embrace Oregon about the different ways you can get involved supporting children in foster care and DHS workers. We discuss the difference that is being made in the lives of these kids. There are upcoming learning tours and orientations for those interested in getting involved. www.EmbraceOregon.org

Montrell Goss is a Portland native who is releasing his 4th book called "Mixed Feelings" on March 6. We talk about more than just his poetry and spend most of the time on his life growing up, his passion for education and mentoring.

www.ReGenerationProject.org Director of the ReGeneration Project Dan Kimball joined us to talk about the upcoming forum in Portland and the collaborative efforts taking place. There has been a lot of understandable focus looking at the reasons new generations are leaving the church that has been very helpful. However, the ReGeneration Project will focus on the encouraging stories of what God is doing in churches that are seeing these negative trends reversed.

Willamette Christian Church is hosting their second annual Parenting Conference February 27 and 28. Family Ministry Director Angie Rettmann tells us all about it. Speakers include pastor/author Carey Nieuwhof and Dr. Doreen Dodgen-Magee. www.willamette.cc/parentingconference

Anna Johnson of Compassion Connect gives us 10 great reasons why you should volunteer or do an internship this year. She then gives us a whole lot of opportunities to volunteer with Compassion Connect and their different partners. Read more at www.CompassionConnect.com

http://reloadlove.com/ Lenya Heitzig had a thought last year..."I wonder if we could make something out of used bullet casings?" Reload Love was born. They are the army of love dreaming of a day when children do not fear for their lives. By transforming spent bullets into something beautiful, they help heal little ones around the world whose lives have been damaged by the ugliness of terrorism. Valentine's Day weekend we are looking to raise $50,000 for children and youth who have been abused and displaced by ISIS and terrorists.

It's National School Choice Week and Nichole Steele of Metro East Web Academy joins us to talk about school choice, the choices available in Oregon, what MEWA offers, and a special event they are holding on Friday 1/30