Podcasts about study scripture

Study Scripture to ignite your faith and grow in assurance. I. TWO DISCIPLES NEEDING ASSURANCE II. JESUS PROCLAIMED HIMSELF FROM SCRIPTURE

Imagine all the different foods you love. What’s your favorite meal? Your favorite dessert? Do you have any cherished family recipes that have been passed down through generations? Perhaps you’ve even learned to prepare some of these dishes yourself. Now, imagine if you couldn’t cook at all—relying solely on others, restaurants, or packaged meals. It would be a daily challenge, limiting your ability to nourish yourself well. In the same way, Scripture is described as spiritual food—something we are meant to live on, meditate upon, and draw nourishment from. But if we lack the ability to understand and study God’s Word, it’s like being unable to cook for ourselves. We become dependent on others for spiritual sustenance, making it difficult to receive consistent, life-giving truth. As we continue our Practicing the Way series on Scripture, we move from reading and meditating to the practice of studying God’s Word. Why is study essential? How does it shape us to become more like Christ? True study brings depth, clarity, and transformation to our faith—and it’s more accessible than you might think. Extra Credit Pick a book in scripture Watch “the Bible project”. Background and outline of the book Take notes and then look up meaning in commentaries Read with your heart & head

Imagine all the different foods you love. What’s your favorite meal? Your favorite dessert? Do you have any cherished family recipes that have been passed down through generations? Perhaps you’ve even learned to prepare some of these dishes yourself. Now, imagine if you couldn’t cook at all—relying solely on others, restaurants, or packaged meals. It would be a daily challenge, limiting your ability to nourish yourself well. In the same way, Scripture is described as spiritual food—something we are meant to live on, meditate upon, and draw nourishment from. But if we lack the ability to understand and study God’s Word, it’s like being unable to cook for ourselves. We become dependent on others for spiritual sustenance, making it difficult to receive consistent, life-giving truth. As we continue our Practicing the Way series on Scripture, we move from reading and meditating to the practice of studying God’s Word. Why is study essential? How does it shape us to become more like Christ? True study brings depth, clarity, and transformation to our faith—and it’s more accessible than you might think. Extra Credit Pick a book in scripture Watch “the Bible project”. Background and outline of the book Take notes and then look up meaning in commentaries Read with your heart & head

Why should we read Scripture? And how should we read the Bible? And, as the Ethiopian eunuch asked Philip in Acts 8, how can we understand unless someone guides us? A team of Biblical scholars, led by Scott Hahn and Curtis Mitch, have put together the Ignatius Study Bible – with notes, context, themes, and more – to help us understand the grand arc of salvation history as the Lord unveils it to us through Scripture. Curtis Mitch, who worked on this project for 21 years, joins Bishop Caggiano on Let Me Be Frank to talk about the Bible and seeing the metanarrative of Scripture.

Study Scripture 01-12-2025 Spencer Teal

A teaching by Alexander Breytenbach.   1:25 1 Samuel 17.50—51; 2 Samuel 21.19; 1 Chronicles 20.5 9:40 Mark 16.9—20 15:37 John 7.53—8.11 17:30 Psalm 22.16 22:09 What do we do with all these variants? 23:31 The Quran's encouragement to read the Bible 25:21 Questions

In a world overflowing with distractions and quick fixes, Stephanie and Ros invite you to explore meaningful Bible study experiences towards awakening fresh delight for God. Ros articulates the value of revisiting familiar Bible passages, emphasizing how repeated exposure refreshes comprehension and facilitates spiritual awakening. Bible study is not merely a checklist, but rather an enriching experience in our spiritual journey. Continuous exploration of Scripture promises fresh insights. Download the FREE recipe for the Rousselle family Moroccan chicken recipe that Ros and Stephanie mention - it is mouth-watering! Here: https://www.gospelspice.com/free  Ros describes her own experience of the “Centering on Christ” Gospel Spice Bible study. It offered her group a delightful setting to discover Christ foreshadowed in the Old Testament, and to worship Him in deeper ways. The study invites you to know Christ at a deeper level through an in-depth exploration of the wilderness Tabernacle erected by Moses. Speaking of being in the wilderness, Stephanie invites us to discover the rich setting of Israel in Jesus' day through the “In the Footsteps of Jesus” Bible study. On her very first visit to the Holy Land, Stephanie had but one goal: to walk where Jesus walked, to see the sights and skylines He saw, to touch the stones He touched, and to experience His words where He initially taught them. Scripture has never been more real and alive to her than since she experienced Jesus in Jerusalem and Galilee. And now, she invites you to do the same! Seeking genuine delight in God is richer and more fulfilling than any worldly substitute. Stephanie draws parallels between savoring the glory of God, and the experience of tasting high-quality vanilla, likening superficial pleasures to settling for imitation vanilla. Ros's anecdote about a mix-up involving vanilla in a traditional South African dessert humorously illustrates the lesson of recognizing true delight once experienced. Stephanie introduces the "French faith" study, where the French word "délice," meaning both "delight" and "delicious," enriches interpretations and brings Scriptures like "taste and see that the Lord is good" to life. French Faith is a three-course meal that aims to serve you as you feed on the word of God to intensify your faith. It's a feast of words for the spiritual senses towards more of God. Christmas shopping is now! So, the Gospel Spice courses are available at a discount with the code ROS30. We aim to combine spiritual growth with impactful giving, supporting Christian organizations combating human trafficking. You will find all our courses at https://www.gospelspice.com/store  You know Stephanie, so you know her Bible courses are super in-depth, and absolutely insight-packed. You will most assuredly deepen your relationship with God through these courses. We release new, updated Bible course a couple of times a year. So check back soon for more, or signup for our newsletter to be the first to know and receive exclusive coupon codes. MORE ABOUT “CENTERING ON CHRIST | THE TABERNACLE” Come with a heart thirsty for more of Christ and experience Him in fresh new ways! Be drawn into deeper, more intimate worship of Christ. Discover the symbolism and ultimate fulfillment of the Tabernacle in Christ, and in you as His dwelling place. Experience God's timeline of grace, from Eden past to Heaven future. You will leave this study with a deep understanding of the symbolism of the Tabernacle and its fulfillment in Christ, and a renewed awe and passion for God. More at https://www.gospelspice.com/tabernacle  MORE ABOUT “IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS” From the comfort of your own home, you will discover the key places of the ministry of Jesus as Stephanie teaches from Scripture and provides an abundance of resources and insights straight from her recent experience. She will share about special moments, like when she experienced a delightful, summer-drenched pine forest scent that might have been a familiar and favorite to Jesus as a child. She will invite you to one of his favorite childhood vistas, or tell you why Galileans were especially impressed with the gleaming white stones of Jerusalem. She will show you what it must have been like to walk on the Emmaus Road with Jesus, and how the Judean wilderness inspired David to write the Psalms that point us to Jesus today. More at https://www.gospelspice.com/footsteps  MORE ABOUT “GOD'S GLORY, OUR DELIGHT” Delighting in the glory of God. Does this concept strike you as reserved for spiritual contemplatives? What if, instead, it proved the highly practical, deeply foundational perspective you need right now?  Why does God's glory even matter in our day and age? How can we learn from Jesus to make His glory our true North and lifelong quest? What keeps us from fully stepping into this God-ordained purpose for our life? How do we kindle delight for God on a daily basis? And, once we have embraced God's glory as our heart's true delight, how can we then come alongside others? Embrace the greatest quest of life today! More at https://www.gospelspice.com/glory    MORE ABOUT “FRENCH FAITH” Delight in Scripture through French eyes! French Faith is a three-course meal that aims to serve you as you feed on the word of God to intensify your faith. It's a feast of words for the spiritual senses towards more of God. Unpack Scripture through the French culture and language with French words that would tell you something maybe unexpected about Christ. You, too, can experience French faith and delight in Christ so that you can approach Scripture and Jesus through French eyes. More at https://www.gospelspice.com/frenchfaith  Do you enjoy Gospel Spice? Then let's deepen our relationship! There are 4 very simple ways to do that, and it would truly mean the world to us.  1- If you've enjoyed this episode, you will love receiving our newsletter. It contains value-packed free gifts and rich content each month. It's at gospelspice.com/signup. There is always something new and exciting happening around here, and I don't want you to miss out! Sign up at Gospelspice.com/signup 2- Did you know Gospel Spice has a YouTube Channel? There's exclusive content there too. So, join Gospel Spice on YouTube! It's at https://www.youtube.com/gospelspice 3- Also please give us a star rating and a comment on your podcast listening app. Your reviews actually really do make a difference to help others discover and experience Gospel Spice. You would be surprised how helpful these are! So please leave a star rating and a review of a sentence or two. Thank you! 4- As always, we are praying for you! You can confidentially email us your prayer requests and praise items at the email address contact@gospelspice.com. It is our privilege to pray for you! So, would you please invest 3 to 5 minutes of your time, maybe even right now, to do one (or more!) of the following suggestions: 1-      signup on our website for our newsletter to receive gifts you're going to love - at Gospelspice.com/signup 2-      find us on YouTube, and see what content we've put together to help you grow closer to Jesus - at https://www.youtube.com/gospelspice 3-      rate Gospel Spice on your listening app – it's one of the easiest ways to share the gospel! 4-      and finally, tell us how we can pray for you! Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Spiritual warfare is a reality that families, particularly those who hold strong Christian beliefs, often face. Understanding spiritual warfare and recognizing how it manifests can help families confront these attacks and fortify themselves spiritually.Ways We See Spiritual Attacks on the FamilyDivision and Conflict: One of the primary tactics in spiritual warfare is to sow seeds of discord within the family. Misunderstandings, arguments, and grudges can fracture relationships. Distraction from Spiritual Priorities: Families can be overwhelmed by hectic schedules, technology, entertainment, and material pursuits. Negative Influences: Spiritual attacks may come through media, friendships, or cultural pressures that promote values contrary to biblical teachings. Mental and Emotional Health Struggles: Spiritual warfare often manifests in the form of anxiety, depression, fear, or feelings of inadequacy. Attacks on Marriages: Marriage is a key target in spiritual warfare because it forms the foundation of the family. Problems such as infidelity, lack of communication, resentment, and selfishness can cause deep rifts in marriage. Challenges in Parenting: Raising children in a godly manner faces opposition through societal influences, peer pressure, and ideologies that contradict biblical values. Advice - Confronting and Dealing with Spiritual AttacksPrayer and Fasting: Prayer is the frontline defense against spiritual warfare. Families should develop a habit of regular, intentional prayer, both individually and as a unit. Daily Bible Reading and Study: Scripture is a powerful weapon in spiritual warfare. Ephesians 6:17 describes the Word of God as "the sword of the Spirit." Wearing the Full Armor of God: Ephesians 6:10-18 outlines the "armor of God" that believers must wear to stand firm against the enemy's schemes. This includes the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and sword of the Spirit. Forgiveness and Reconciliation: Families must actively work on resolving conflicts and practicing forgiveness. Guarding the Mind: Proverbs 4:23 advises, "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." Families should be cautious of what they allow into their minds through media, relationships, and activities. Building a Supportive Christian Community: Engaging with a church community provides spiritual support and accountability. Regular Worship and Sacraments: Participating in regular worship and sacraments, such as Communion, keeps the family connected to God's grace and reminds them of His power over darkness. Encouraging Open Communication: Parents should foster an environment where children feel comfortable discussing their fears, doubts, and questions about faith. strategies to counter them, families can protect their unity and spiritual health. As Ephesians 6:12 reminds us, "Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world." In Christ, families have the power to overcome these forces and live in victory.https://rocksolidfamilies.orgSupport the show#Rocksolidfamilies, #familytherapy, #marriagecounseling, #parenting, #faithbasedcounseling, #counseling, #Strongdads, #coaching, #lifecoach, #lifecoaching, #marriagecoaching, #marriageandfamily, #control, #security, #respect, #affection, #love, #purpose, #faith, #affairs, #infidelity

Great things can happen when like-minded men study God's Word together to apply it to every area of life! Chalcedon's weekly Men's Roundtable—an online Bible study—is celebrating 10 years of doing just that, and co-host Chris Zimmerman takes time to share about this important work. Listen in.

Great things can happen when like-minded men study God's Word together to apply it to every area of life! Chalcedon's weekly Men's Roundtable—an online Bible study—is celebrating 10 years of doing just that, and co-host Chris Zimmerman takes time to share about this important work. Listen in.

Great things can happen when like-minded men study God's Word together to apply it to every area of life! Chalcedon's weekly Men's Roundtable—an online Bible study—is celebrating 10 years of doing just that, and co-host Chris Zimmerman takes time to share about this important work. Listen in.

PM Sermon

We're back with our final highlight episode from the 2024 Testify Congress. Yes, last month, in Pasadena, California, The Salvation Army from around the Western Territory joined for an event focused on teaching, training and motivating Salvationists to tell the story of Jesus more often and to more people. And The Salvation Army's international leaders, General Lyndon Buckingham and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham, traveled from London to be part of it all. You've heard the General speak from this event a couple times now—in Episode 193 and 197. Today, we bring you his final appearance of the Congress before some 3,000 attendees at the Pasadena Convention Center Civic Auditorium. This is his public charge to the new lieutenants. Over the weekend, the Defenders of Justice Session of cadets were commissioned as Salvation Army officers, or pastors, and in this meeting were given their very first ministry assignment. In fact, they don't find out the location until they are standing on stage! And this is the battle cry, if you will, for each one of them from The Salvation Army's international leader. Listen in and be encouraged in your eagerness to serve, too. EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more. BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series. WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz. STUDY SCRIPTURE. Get inside the collection. BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram. FIGHT FOR GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.

We're back with more highlights from the 2024 Testify Congress. Last month, in Pasadena, California, The Salvation Army from around the Western Territory joined for an event focused on teaching, training and motivating Salvationists to tell the story of Jesus more often and to more people.  And the sessions featured, you guessed it, testimonies from programs and ministries of The Salvation Army across the West.  Today, we're sharing two: First, you'll hear from Monte Mansfield, a one-time professional athlete whose life was forever altered by substance abuse. Eventually, he found The Salvation Army through the Adult Rehabilitation Center program. Then, Sthephania Mihilii, who moved to the U.S. from Mexico in second grade when her single mom married. She rebelled in her teenage years and then became a lifeguard at a Salvation Army Kroc Center. So allow me to introduce to you today, Monte Mansfield and Sthephania Mihilii—who each took to the stage live after the screening of their video testimony. EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more. BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series. WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz. STUDY SCRIPTURE. Get inside the collection. BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram. FIGHT FOR GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.

We're back with more highlights from the 2024 Testify Congress. Last month, in Pasadena, California, The Salvation Army from around the Western Territory joined for an event focused on teaching, training and motivating Salvationists to tell the story of Jesus more often and to more people. And The Salvation Army's international leaders, General Lyndon Buckingham and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham, traveled from London to be part of it all. You may remember the General from episode 178, where we chatted about why your testimony matters (and how to use it for good). And in Episode 193, we shared his message from the first main session of the Congress with some 3,000 attendees at the Pasadena Convention Center Civic Auditorium. Today, we bring you his preaching from the third main session, focused on holy living. Listen in and be encouraged to embrace your identity in Christ. EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more. BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series. WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz. STUDY SCRIPTURE. Get inside the collection. BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram. FIGHT FOR GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.

We're back with more highlights from the 2024 Testify Congress. Last month, in Pasadena, California, The Salvation Army from around the Western Territory joined for an event focused on teaching, training and motivating Salvationists to tell the story of Jesus more often and to more people.  And the sessions featured, you guessed it, testimonies from programs and ministries of The Salvation Army across the West.  Today, we're sharing two: First, you'll hear from Envoy Kevin Nagasaki. If that name sounds familiar, it is! Envoy Kevin was on the show in Episode 190 talking about living and serving through the Maui fire disaster. This is his testimony. Then, Dalton Low and his mom, Angela. Dalton was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at a young age. He found a place of belonging at The Salvation Army, and helps lead worship today. So allow me to introduce to you today, Envoy Kevin Nagasaki and Dalton Low—who each took to the stage live after the screening of their video testimony. EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more. BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series. WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz. STUDY SCRIPTURE. Get inside the collection. BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram. FIGHT FOR GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.

We're back with more highlights from the 2024 Testify Congress. Last month, in Pasadena, California, The Salvation Army from around the Western Territory joined for an event focused on teaching, training and motivating Salvationists to tell the story of Jesus more often and to more people.  And The Salvation Army's international leaders, General Lyndon Buckingham and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham, traveled from London to be part of it all. You heard from the General a couple episodes ago, and today, we're sharing Commissioner Bronwyn's message from the second main session of the Congress with some 3,000 attendees at the Pasadena Convention Center Civic Auditorium. Commissioner Bronwyn, a Salvation Army officer since 1990, now serves as World President of Women's Ministries. Listen in as she celebrates our stories, shares a bit of her own and encourages you in testifying to yours. EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more. BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series. WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz. STUDY SCRIPTURE. Get inside the collection. BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram. FIGHT FOR GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.  

We're back with more highlights from the 2024 Testify Congress. This month, in Pasadena, California, The Salvation Army from around the Western Territory joined for an event focused on teaching, training and motivating Salvationists to tell the story of Jesus more often and to more people.  And the sessions featured, you guessed it, testimonies from programs and ministries of The Salvation Army across the West.  Today, we're sharing two: First, you'll hear from Lt. Do-Hyun Kim, who was commissioned over the weekend as a Salvation Army officer or pastor. A cadet in training from the Korea Territory, Lt. Kim completed his second year of training at the College for Officer Training at Crestmont in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, and will now return to the Korea Territory for his first appointment. Then, Davrah Williams, who met The Salvation Army through the Lambuth Family Center, a short-term emergency shelter that houses up to 20 families at a time in Denver. While keeping families together, the center helps them break the cycle of poverty and homelessness and begin building a sustainable, self-sufficient life. EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more. BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series. WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz. STUDY SCRIPTURE. Get inside the collection. BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram. FIGHT FOR GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.

We're back with more highlights from the 2024 Testify Congress. This month, in Pasadena, California, The Salvation Army from around the Western Territory joined for an event focused on teaching, training and motivating Salvationists to tell the story of Jesus more often and to more people.  And The Salvation Army's international leaders, General Lyndon Buckingham and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham, traveled from London to be part of it all. Today, we're sharing his message from the first main session of the Congress with some 3,000 attendees at the Pasadena Convention Center Civic Auditorium. Listen in as the General shares a four-part formula for life in Christ: Connect with God and know him, share the good news of Jesus Christ, demonstrate care and concern for those in need, and pursue holiness. EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more. BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series. WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz. STUDY SCRIPTURE. Get inside the collection. BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram. FIGHT FOR GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.  

This past weekend, in Pasadena, California, The Salvation Army from around the Western Territory joined for an event focused on teaching, training and motivating Salvationists to tell the story of Jesus more often and to more people—the 2024 Testify Congress. The annual celebration includes the commencement, commissioning, ordination and appointment of cadets as they've completed two years of training at the College for Officer Training at Crestmont to become Salvation Army officers. But this year was bigger than ever as The Salvation Army's international leaders, General Lyndon Buckingham and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham, traveled from London to be part of it all. Now, we're dedicating our next few episodes to sharing the highlights with you, starting today with the commencement address by Dr. Sharon Docter. Dr. Docter is a professor of communication at California Lutheran University and a member of the Board of Governance for the College for Officer Training. She's also a lay leader, the Corps Sergeant Major, of the Pasadena Tabernacle Corps.  This session of graduating cadets is named the Defenders of Justice. Listen in as Dr. Docter shares three superpowers cadets need when beginning their life as officers from a soldier's perspective: authenticity, presence and seeing people as they really are.  EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more. BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series. WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz. STUDY SCRIPTURE. Get inside the collection. BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram. FIGHT FOR GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.

In this latest Office Hours episode, Knox, Jamie, and Erin are answering your questions! You'll hear questions about homosexuality in the Bible, why the geographic area of the Bible is so limited, and what the Bible actually has to say about a personal relationship with Jesus. Which Bible characters would the cast of Bridgerton play, and did Adam and Eve have belly buttons? You'll have to listen to find out!  MENTIONS You could be listening to this episode ad-free! Learn more here. Surprising Sacred: Hit Me Hard and Soft by Billie Eilish  Can you tell me more about Angel Numbers? Angel Numbers by Doreen Virtue (Note: Doreen Virtue no longer endorses this book. You can learn more on her website.)  Tell me more about Angel Numbers  Bible Verses Referenced: John 1 | John 14:15-17 | 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 In Conclusion, No One Knows: Get the shirt here  Relevant past episodes: LGBTQIA+ and the Church | Side to Side: Where We Land on LGBTQIA+  LGBTQIA+ Resources: God and the Gay Christian by Matthew Vines | The Reformation Project | Article from Walter Brueggemanne  Super-Nerd Resource: Blue Letter Bible  The Faith Adjacent Seminary: Support us on Patreon.   Subscribe to our Newsletter: The Dish from Faith Adjacent Faith Adjacent Merch: Shop Here Shop our Amazon Link: amazon.com/shop/faithadjacent Follow Faith Adjacent on Socials: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

No one expects to evacuate from their home in the middle of the night, wading through chest-deep water to find a way out of an emergency. We just don't think it'll happen to us. But for Shamrock Steele and her husband, Dave Lanphear, it did. Shamrock and Dave survived the Skagit floods in November 2021. They made it out in the middle of the night, in their pajamas, with their young grandkids and pets. Their completely remodeled house that they were just about to move into, however, did not. Then days turned to months as they figured out what to do next and how to rebuild. And that's when they met The Salvation Army. EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more. BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series. WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz. STUDY SCRIPTURE. Get inside the collection. BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram. FIGHT FOR GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.

Two kinds of fathers are there.The one Heavenly, the other earthly.The Lord of Glory, the Carpenter of Nazareth said:“I AND THE FATHER ARE ONE.”What a claim. Blasphemy by a human being if it were not true. But they were ONE, and the carpenter from Nazareth told us in unequivocal terms that the CREATOR OF THIS UNIVERSE AND OUR EARTH was indeed among so many other things a:FATHERTo Him and to us. For otherwise, this Creator would be completely unknown, incapable of being known by us, but HE is. And, the Supreme Creator loves us and cares for us. To me that is a thought incomprehensible were it not for:HIMOur Lord Jesus Christ took something remote, obscure and unfathomable and made it known, personal, deeply meaningful and loving so that we, the creatures of His creation, could understand who we are, why we are, and what we should believe.We are to understand and believe said Jesus, that there is for us an ETERNAL FATHER and not merely a cosmic Creator. We are known as individuals, as sons and daughters by this Father, and we are not mere specks in the universe or dust in the wind. We have meaning. We are in fact SONS AND DAUGHTERS of this Father having claimed our inheritance as such through the SON Jesus Christ. Hard to comprehend but true.We are also told that God the Father is love. GOD IS LOVE, and that love is the essence of God and so available to us. Love is the greatest says the Scriptures, more so than faith and hope, and to know that God is love incarnate is just incredible.And we who are fathers should love the very same way. Even as the eternal Father loves us, so should we love our children. If a Heavenly Father loves unconditionally, so an earthly father should do the same, love the child unconditionally. The highest attributes of any earthly father are the embracing, heartfelt and unconditional loving openness to the child even as the Father loves the child:LOVE NEVER FAILSBut there is another side of love from our Heavenly Father, a TOUGH LOVE. That is, love at work which is ready to:DISCIPLINELove may indeed be meek, warm, gentle and forgiving, kind and open and it should be. But love must also be tough, demanding, disciplined and concerned for all things which are:RIGHTFor there are indeed prodigal sons and daughters who go astray. As such, they honor not the Heavenly Father nor the earthly. Discipline is required, firm and straight. The rod was used in the old days to accomplish discipline and to carryout punishment. But that has been taken away. Discipline today is more on the order of depriving the child of opportunities and pleasures or requiring the child to make up for the wrong and do what is right. Sometimes it works and sometimes not. But fathers can not SPARE THE ROD however the rod is determined for that is a fatherly duty. No child can grow without discipline for there is nothing worse for a father than a child spoiled and bent upon his own way. Demanding standards, the terms and conditions of sonship, are a father's duty which can not be delegated or ignored. And the Scriptures make it perfectly clear:WHOM THE FATHER LOVES HE CHASTENSChastening is real love at work. BY THEIR FRUITS, LOVING DISCIPLINE AT WORK, YE SHALL KNOW THE FATHER AND WHO THE FATHER TRULY IS.The integrity of the father is critical. Dads must do what they say and dads must say what they mean. The father must live by the same standards he requires of the child. The father must be consistent in character, live a life with values and without hypocrisy. Nothing is harder for a child to accept than lectures about right and wrong from a father who lives by neither. So that, a father does not have to explain or justify the demands. The father does not have to negotiate with the child and in the course of discipline ask the child if it is OK.For it matters not if the child agrees with the father. If a child respects a loving father, that is all that is required. So many families seem to have so little respect for each other and rapidly become dysfunctional. But a true father, a real father is head of household. He is the one in charge, so say the Scriptures, kind, loving, considerate and respectful of all including and especially the wife-mother, but head of the household nonetheless. Discharging all of those functions gives the father the right to discipline and demand. But again, the father has earned that right by the way he lives. When the son is old and ready for his own life, the ways of the father will be his and the son in turn will perpetuate, carryon those values for his family.It is so very important for the father to incorporate the son into his life. To train up the child is to involve the child in the life, the career, the work of the father. So many sons carry on, inherit and follow the father. Father and son, or daughter, work together,learn together and the father teaches in practical ways. What the father holds dear and in which he has invested his life becomes part of the child, a very practical and worthy training for the child. The child can learn the way of business, work, industry so that like father, the child can be:A WORK MAN OR WOMAN WORTHY OF HIS HIREThat kind of fatherly guidance is so very important and it is the duty of the father to invest the time and effort to train up the child in that way.And so with hobbies, and fun. There are games, trips, sports, theater, dining and all manners of wonderful vacation which must be shared by father and child. Life is difficult and even as there are the demands of work, there must be the pleasures of play. To laugh and cry together. To enjoy the joys of this world as God has indicated is our right. Lasting moments are created in fun and play.Father and child are intimate, or should be. Their dialogue, their caring for each other should be totally open, transparent. Nothing should be hidden. The child should have the confidence and the trust in father to openly reveal, discuss hurts, ask questions, confess doubt, challenge beliefs and otherwise make certain that the father fully understands precisely who the child is. For the child develops independently and individually, a special and unique creation by God, and not merely as the earthly father would have him be. The answers to questions should come first from the father, not from peers or school but from DAD. The son should want to talk to father first and be assured that he knows what the father thinks. They can not always agree but father and son can always be open and honest with each other. That seems so lacking today. There is little communication, virtually no dialogue. Father's preach and lecture but seldom practice one of the most important attributes of good fathering:LISTENINGReally listening. Patiently allowing the child to open the heart, to question, to express love and anger and to know as a child the father will listen and respect. That more than anything builds character and confidence in the child. Fathers are friends and confidants. The father in the mind of the child is the first GO-TO.If not, the child seeks FATHER SURROGATES and substitutes. Today's education can often occur without traditional moral values or the standards of old. No third party education is a substitute for a father's education. Children who are fatherless in actuality or spiritually seek comfort, guidance and acceptance from their peers which can often be secular and even with immoral influences. They are ready to learn and adapt, to be accepted in so many ways different from what the father might believe or want for the child. The conduct of the child can then become permissive, even unlawful as standards or morality are worn down and compromised. That fatherless child goes a different way and the father has forsaken the most important duty of fatherhood, training up that child. If you have a child, if you are a biological father, then you must, YOU MUST be a spiritual, loving father as God would have it. Don't send a child to church. Take him. Worship with him. Love together the Lord of Glory. Study Scripture and pray, together. Talk about spiritual things for the child is even more interested in what the father thinks and believes than perhaps a pastor.Take time for the child's life, school events, sports. Be there, lovingly and with respect for the child growing to adult. Nothing means more than a father BEING THERE. That child is YOU, dad. You can not ignore or deny YOU. The child wants YOU more than anything else. There came to you that little bundle of joy, your very own son, your very own daughter, YOU IN EVERY WAY! You are privileged to be a father of that child and he or she should be a clear priority, a first priority. There will never be better earthly love, nothing comes close, than the love of a father for his child. However strong the bond, and even if the father-child bond is broken, in some deep primal way, love is always there, or at least the hope of that love. There is no child, or father however old or hardened who does not feel that way. What a joy, what a privilege to be a father.Even as an adult, well-educated, perhaps successful, father himself, a son will always seek out a father, for fellowship, for advice, for comfort and caring, and for love. That never changes. Even in death, he the father being dead yet speaketh. All he was and all they were together lives on, it is eternal even as the love of God is eternal. The words, the deeds, the loving deeds will never be forgotten. The understanding, the trust and the respect between father and child will never die.Perhaps a father's proudest moment is when the child, adult and ready, leaves the father and becomes his own man. That is a biblical requirement, and at that time, the father should be proud, very proud of the INVESTMENT he has made in the child. For a father can think back, reminisce and remember all of those things which forged the bond, the training, the education and growth of the child, an investment far more valuable than anything financial. That, says dad, is my son. That, says dad, is my daughter of whom I am so very proud. He or she was worth everything I gave. The loving bond between father and child will sustain, motivate and guide the child for a lifetime. It is the earthly component of the Heavenly Father. What a privilege it is to be a father.So, I and my company the Crawford Broadcasting Company salute fathers, real fathers who love, educate, grow and train up their children in the way in which they should go. You are special, dads like that, very special. The world needs real fathers now more than ever. And, what is so wonderful is that it is never too late to be father no matter what has gone before. Fathering may ebb and flow but the opportunity is always there, always. Never quit, never give up on fathering.So, enjoy your day DAD. Father's Day can show love and respect for dad one day. But real fathers are honored by their children every day. For the most priceless thing any child can have is:A LOVING FATHER!

We've said it before: The Salvation Army's disaster relief operation never sleeps. Perhaps that could not be more true than in the case of Envoy Kevin Nagasaki who is in-charge of the Lahaina Lighthouse Corps in Maui, Hawaii. You'll remember last August, the Lahaina Lighthouse Corps burned along with historic Lahaina town in the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century. For Envoy Nagasaki, this disaster was personal: The corps complex contained spaces for worship, social services and a thrift store, along with the home he shared with his wife as ministry leaders in the community for nearly 30 years.  So not only was the community he loves leveled, and he himself directly impacted by the fires, he was on the frontlines of service responding to them too. Less than 24 hours after the fires, he was delivering food across shelter sites and serving first responders as part of The Salvation Army's coordinated effort on the island of Maui that is still ongoing. In this episode, guest hosted by Managing Editor Hillary Jackson, Envoy Kevin Nagasaki shares a glimpse of what it's like to respond to a disaster when you're truly in it yourself. He shares the hope he has for his community, and how it's finding renewal. EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more. BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series. WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz. STUDY SCRIPTURE. Get inside the collection. BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram. FIGHT FOR GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.

Building resilience is a lengthy process, but it's an investment that pays off. By focusing on preparedness, mitigation and adaptation, more communities can ensure that they too build and sustain resilience after a natural disaster. Todd De Voe is a true authority on all things resilience and emergency management. Todd is the Editor in Chief of The Emergency Management Network newsletter, a published author in the reference book "Campus Crisis Management," and has penned numerous whitepapers and studies.  He hosts The EMN Newsletter Podcast and The Leader's Cafe. He even delivered a TED talk on building and sustaining resilience. Todd holds a Masters in Public Administration and another in Emergency Management, and he's a graduate of the National Emergency Management Executive Academy. Today, we're diving into what resilience truly means in emergency management, the the role of community organizations and programs in building a culture of preparedness, along with strategies communities can use to strengthen their bonds and resources in the face of adversity. Most importantly, Todd will share insights into the common challenges communities face during recovery and how they should be approached. EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more. BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series. WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz. STUDY SCRIPTURE. Get inside the collection. BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram. FIGHT FOR GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.

Every disaster scenario creates its own unique circumstances and special needs. In each case, The Salvation Army is there with other agencies to offer relief in the form of food services, emergency communications, donations management, social services and more. Perhaps most uniquely, The Salvation Army deploys specially trained individuals to offer emotional and spiritual care to rescue workers and disaster survivors alike. That ministry of presence is all we do and say—a collective action of words, touch, listening and presence. Collectively, those actions work together to express the love and compassion of God. Major Tammy Ray, who currently serves as the corps officer in Redding, California, has a long history of responding to disasters as part of The Salvation Army's disaster relief team. And she helps prepare people to serve in this emotional and spiritual care role—to discern and offer what someone might need, even if they can't state for themselves—to create the "transforming place." As she says, It's more being than doing. It's a quiet servanthood, a calm presence. It's not about fixing but it is a gift of connection with another person at a critical time in their life. It might be exactly what St. Francis of Assisi meant when he said, "Preach the gospel at all times, and if necessary, use words.” EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more. BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series. WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz. STUDY SCRIPTURE. Get inside the collection. BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram. FIGHT FOR GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.

A good start to disaster preparedness is knowing the risks you should be prepared for based on where you live. That's a big part of Jonathan Sury's work. Jonathan is the Project Director for Communications and Field Operations at the National Center for Disaster Preparedness. He is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Population and Family Health at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University.   Jonathan leads a project called the Natural Hazards Index, which maps local vulnerability to various disasters at the sub-county level. Everything including extreme heat, earthquakes, landslides, tornadoes, and floods. The project's interactive map allows users to zoom in and assess climate, weather and geological hazards in their vicinity. That way, people can learn to take proactive measures to safeguard themselves and their families.  Today we're talking with Jonathan about the Natural Hazards Index, the importance of preparedness, how data can help individual households and communities alike, and what we should be paying attention to amid the changing disaster landscape. EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more. BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series. WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz. STUDY SCRIPTURE. Get inside the collection. BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram. FIGHT FOR GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.

Where would you go if you could live anywhere you wanted? For a lot of Americans, the answer is Phoenix. In fact, Maricopa County, Arizona, which includes Phoenix, Mesa and Scottsdale, has held the title of "fastest growing county in the U.S. by numeric growth" for much of the past decade. But, Maricopa isn't just one of the hottest places in terms of popularity. It's also the literal hottest metropolitan area in the U.S. Summertime, in particular, is dangerously hot in Maricopa County, and getting hotter every passing year. Last year, in 2023, Maricopa County identified a total of 645 heat-related deaths—a 52 percent increase from the previous year and the most heat-related deaths ever recorded.  The Salvation Army runs a network of heat relief stations throughout Maricopa County to help residents stay safe and hydrated, and out of the record-breaking temperatures.  Lt. Colonel Ivan Wild, Divisional Commander of The Salvation Army Southwest Division, is on the show to talk about The Salvation Army's heat-related disaster response efforts and how the organization plans to better serve its communities amid more extreme weather events. EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more. BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series. WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz. STUDY SCRIPTURE. Get inside the collection. BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram. FIGHT FOR GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.

The U.S. experienced a record number of billion-dollar weather disasters in 2023, and it's not a one-year fluke but the new trend. In the face of this changing disaster landscape, there's one organization consistently on the frontlines, bringing aid and hope to those in need: The Salvation Army, whose disaster relief operation never sleeps. Last year alone, The Salvation Army served nearly 600,000 people across a staggering 4,300 disaster events. Thanks to the generosity of donors and corporate partners, The Salvation Army was able to provide these survivors with a warm meal, a safe haven for the night, and in some cases, something just as essential: a listening ear and a moment of prayer. John Berglund, The Salvation Army's Emergency Disaster Services Director in the West, is helping us set the stage for our ongoing conversation about the current state of disaster relief.   He's sharing more on the dynamics of serving throughout another record-breaking disaster year, the importance of cleverly adapting to meet needs, and some of the common misconceptions around disaster relief. EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more. BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series. WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz. STUDY SCRIPTURE. Get inside the collection. BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram. FIGHT FOR GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.

  A lot of us respect the Bible but if we're honest with ourselves, we struggle to love it. We haven't learned to "consume" what's spiritually nourishing. Scripture is not just literature; it's spiritual fuel, essential for our growth and vitality.   In this episode, Whit and Casey discuss how to learn and grow in our understanding and love of God's Word.   Show notes:   Check out the Message: How to Hear God Through His Word https://youtu.be/cZi3yfjiAO4?si=FTDQrxvMU6BkML3h   Bible Resources:   Eat This Book by Eugene Peterson How to Read the Bible for All It's Worth by Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart The Bible Project: https://bibleproject.com/ Bible Recap: https://www.thebiblerecap.com/   Bible Books in 30 Minutes Podcast: https://podcast24.co.uk/podcasts/bible-books-in-30-minutes-audio   Study Scripture in Community: https://churchonthemove.com/cotmu

We see stats about addiction. We see substance abuse portrayed in film and in TV shows. We might even know someone who's personally faced addiction to drugs or alcohol. But most of us don't really understand what causes addiction, and why our brains respond the way they do to drugs. Dr. Judy Grisel has made it her life's work to unravel the mysteries of addiction, striving to uncover its root causes. A distinguished behavioral neuroscientist whose expertise spans the fields of pharmacology and genetics, Dr. Grisel's groundbreaking research draws from her insights into addiction. These insights aren't just academic though; they're also deeply personal.  Dr. Grisel's journey has been shaped by her own experience with addiction, which has given her a unique vantage point on the subject.  Her passion for understanding the neuroscience behind addiction led her to deliver a powerful TED Talk titled “Never Enough: The Neuroscience and Experience of Addiction,” which captivated audiences around the world. She wrote a book of the same name. With a career dedicated to advancing our understanding of addiction, Dr. Grisel is on the show to share her knowledge, insights and research findings, shedding light on this complex and often stigmatized topic. EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more. BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series. WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz. STUDY SCRIPTURE. Get inside the collection. BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram. FIGHT FOR GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.

It's 2024, and the opioid crisis is showing no signs of slowing down. Overdose deaths from opioids, including prescription painkillers and synthetics like fentanyl, continue to rise. The statistics paint a chilling picture.  According to the CDC, an estimated 187 people in the U.S. die every day of opioid overdoses, most involving illicit and dangerous versions of fentanyl.  What's perhaps more alarming, is this crisis is now affecting every age group. In fact, overdose is now the third leading cause of death in American children. From 2019 to 2021, adolescent overdose deaths more than doubled. To help us better understand the crisis, Dr. Ricky Bluthenthal is on the show today. At the University of Southern California, Dr. Bluthenthal is a Professor and Vice Chair for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Department of Populations and Public Health Sciences, and Associate Dean for Social Justice in the Keck School of Medicine. He's well versed on the opioid crisis and its devastating effects on families and communities. He's been published more than 190 times in peer-reviewed scientific journals and is on the editorial board of the International Journal of Drug Policy. Dr. Bluthenthal has received numerous awards including the John P. McGovern Award for Excellence in Medical Education from the Association for Multidisciplinary Education & Research in Substance Use & Addiction. On this episode, he joins to give us more insight on the opioid crisis and what he believes needs to happen to make change. EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more. BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series. WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz. STUDY SCRIPTURE. Get inside the collection. BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram. FIGHT FOR GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.

Did you know every 39 minutes, someone dies in a drunk-driving accident in the United States? That's about 37 people a day. We know drinking and driving is deadly, yet it continues to happen across the country. According to one estimate, on average, those who drive drunk will be intoxicated 80 times before being caught. In addition, studies show the odds of being involved in a fatal auto accident increase with each additional DUI arrest.  It's a fate Shauna Zeuske tempted again and again. In 2015, she was arrested for driving under the influence. That DUI was her third. Within a month, she'd received two more and ended up with a three-year jail sentence. She was able to get some time shaved off her sentence, but within six months of returning home, she got her sixth DUI. When she went back to jail, she told her public defender she wanted to go to The Salvation Army. They allowed it, so she entered the Adult Rehabilitation Center program. These residential programs provide spiritual, emotional and social assistance to individuals who are experiencing a variety of social, emotional and spiritual challenges, including issues relating to substance abuse. Shauna feared she wouldn't be able to get sober, but she stuck with it, because as she said, “she desperately wanted to stop drinking.” And in 2021, she graduated from The Salvation Army San Diego Adult Rehabilitation Center.  She went on to manage the Transitional Living Center at The Salvation Army Door of Hope Rady Campus in San Diego, helping other women looking for transformation too. And today, she works as a financial controller for a construction company. She recently married and continues to sponsor and mentor others through their own challenges. Shauna is on the show to share more about her own experience on the road to recovery. EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more. BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series. WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz. STUDY SCRIPTURE. Get inside the collection. BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram. FIGHT FOR GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.

It's said when an individual is rehabilitated from their addiction, some 50 people around them are positively affected.  For The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center program across the western U.S., that equates to some 50,000 people a year.  And more than only addressing issues of substance abuse, these centers offer life rehabilitation for those who need it, according to Major Mark Nelson, ARC Commander in the West.  It's a story that goes back to William Booth telling his son in Victorian England to "do something" to help the men living under the bridge.  Now, for more than 100 years, The Salvation Army has operated rehabilitation facilities across the U.S. that provide help and hope to those with a variety of problems, including issues relating to substance abuse. These residential programs offer spiritual, emotional and social assistance in an environment designed to help participants live healthy, fulfilling lives. But it doesn't stop with them. That ripple effect is helping restore families. EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more. BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series. WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz. STUDY SCRIPTURE. Get inside the collection. BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram. FIGHT FOR GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.

One in 7 Americans reports experiencing a substance use disorder, according to the CDC.  Some people may use drugs to help cope with stress or trauma. Others may use them to deal with mental health issues. Others still may even develop opioid use disorder after misusing opioids they are prescribed by their doctors for ailments like back pain.  In any case, using drugs over time makes it easier to become addicted. Yet for those that become addicted, just one in 10 people will receive treatment. The reasons for this low rate range from stigma to difficulty actually accessing treatment services.  It's something Steve Adami is keeping a close watch on.  Steve spent two decades in and out of jails and prison. Today, he is Executive Director of The Way Out, a recovery-focused homeless initiative of The Salvation Army. Ultimately, Steve wants to make sure it's easy for anyone who wants to get treatment to get treatment. And he's on the show to share more about the effort to do just that. EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more. BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series. WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz. STUDY SCRIPTURE. Get inside the collection. BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram. FIGHT FOR GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.  

We've heard church attendance is down globally in the wake of the pandemic. Per Gallup, in the United States, just 22% of people say they attend church every week. That's down from 32% in 2000. We talked last week to General Lyndon Buckingham, the international leader of The Salvation Army, about this trend and what he makes of it. And while The Salvation Army hasn't been wholly immune to this—there are locations where we're seeing the opposite. And we want to take you to one of them today. The Ray and Joan Kroc Corps and Community Center in Phoenix saw a 112% increase in Sunday morning meeting attendance from 2019 to 2023. So what's going on at the Kroc? Captains Dustin and Caroline Rowe are the corps officers, or pastors, of the Phoenix Kroc Center. They're on the show today to share more about their community, their congregation and their perspective on growing a church. EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more. BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series. WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz. STUDY SCRIPTURE. Get inside the collection. BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram. FIGHT FOR GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.

Are you prepared to give an answer, a reason for the hope that you have? We're told in 1 Peter 3:15 to always be ready—and maybe, especially now. Maybe the world needs that hope more than ever. It's part of what makes The Salvation Army what it is. As General Lyndon Buckingham will tell you, we are visible which signals that we are available. And why? Well, Salvation is in the name. General Buckingham is the international leader of The Salvation Army, having assumed the office in August 2023. He has served alongside his wife Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham in appointments from New Zealand to Canada to Singapore. He is focused on finding ways for The Salvation Army to be more effective in fulfilling its mission, starting with our own personal testimony. And he's on the show to share more about how we can be ready and be looking.  EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more. BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series. WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz. STUDY SCRIPTURE. Get inside the collection. BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram. FIGHT FOR GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.

Despite California's economic might and world-class growth engine, one of the biggest problems plaguing the state is growing right alongside its GDP.  California has dominated the national conversation on homelessness. As of 2022, 30 percent of all people in the U.S. experiencing homelessness resided in California, including half of all unsheltered people. In a recent poll, 84 percent of Californians said they think homelessness has become a “very serious problem.” And despite spending billions to address it, the issue has only grown.   To help us understand why so many efforts to curb homelessness have fallen short and which strategies deserve more of our attention, we're talking today with Andrew Hening. Andrew is a UC Berkeley MBA with nearly 20 years of social sector leadership experience. He is currently consulting with public agencies to measurably reduce homelessness, spark civic innovation, and redesign systems of care for homeless and at-risk populations. In 2018, Andrew was named the top national influencer in local government by Engaging Local Government Leaders for his work with the City of San Rafael. There, Andrew helped break down the complex issue of homelessness and mobilize the community around lasting solutions. He's also the author of “So You Want to Solve Homelessness? Start Here,” helping us understand the issue, what efforts are effective and what communities can learn. EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more. BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series. WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz. STUDY SCRIPTURE. Get inside the collection. BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram. FIGHT FOR GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.  

As we've been discussing recently, homelessness in the U.S. is still on the rise. In fact, rates have been climbing nationally by about 6% every year since 2017, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness. That uptick coincides with soaring housing costs and rising prices for necessities like food and transportation. As we work to chip away at the homelessness crisis, one of the often overlooked components is data collection. Collecting the right data is critical in helping us understand the issue and deploy our resources more efficiently.  Quality data, of course, enables communities to tailor solutions to people's specific needs so they can exit homelessness. To help us better understand the importance of data and the complexities surrounding homelessness on a national scale, Steve Berg, chief policy officer at the National Alliance to End Homelessness is on the show today. Steve is an expert in the field of homelessness and housing policy. He has dedicated much of his career to advocating for effective policies and strategies to address homelessness in the U.S. And he's written extensively on various ways addressing the primary need for housing for people experiencing homelessness leads to stability and better health. EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more. BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series. WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz. STUDY SCRIPTURE. Get inside the collection. BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram. FIGHT FOR GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.

See you soon in institute!

There's a lot of focus, and rightfully so, on decreasing homelessness in the U.S. It's a complex issue that deserves our attention more than ever. But it's important to remember that when you dig beneath all of the data and all of the policies and all of the ambitious housing projects, you find real human stories. And you see that a lot of people who experience homelessness at some point in their lives are our neighbors, friends, coworkers, and family members. And many of them, given the chance, go on to transform their lives and do incredible things. That's what this episode is all about. Today, we're talking with someone who fits that description to a tee, Morgane Dussault. Morgane is The Salvation Army's Corporate Engagement Director in the Golden State Division.  She grew up in Chico, California, with dreams of studying international business at Pepperdine University. But her path changed one night at a high school party when she tried hard drugs. Six months later, she dropped out of school. For the next 15 years, Morgane struggled with addiction. She found herself homeless with nowhere to turn. Then one day in jail, a fellow inmate told her, “If you want to change your life and you're serious about it, then you need to go to The Salvation Army.” So she did. And today, Morgane says all of the struggles shaped her into someone inspired and committed to making a difference for others. She's on the show today to share more of her incredible story with us and you have to hear it from her. EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more. BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series. WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz. STUDY SCRIPTURE. Get inside the collection. BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram. FIGHT FOR GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.  

More than 400,000 people were homeless last year. That's a record high, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness. To put that number in perspective, that's roughly enough people to fill Michigan Stadium, the largest stadium in the U.S., not once but four times. And many experts agree even that figure might be an undercount. Despite pouring billions of dollars into shelter beds and support services, cities across the country are struggling to keep up with the demand. That's especially true on the West Coast, where encampments are ubiquitous and housing costs continue to skyrocket. In the Greater LA area, which, according to some experts, has become Ground Zero for homelessness, several new projects are taking aim at the issue. The Salvation Army recently launched two. In these new projects, and the existing ones across Southern California, the goal is to help end chronic homelessness in the community and transform the lives of those who come in. As we begin our series exploring the state of homelessness, Lt. Colonel Mike Dickinson, Divisional Commander for The Salvation Army in Southern California, is here today to tell us more about what The Salvation Army is doing to chip away at the crisis, and why. EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more. BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series. WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz. STUDY SCRIPTURE. Get inside the collection. BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram. FIGHT FOR GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.

Have you ever wondered what your purpose in life is, especially when everyone around you seems to be living their best life? Ciara Laine Myers has. For a long time, Ciara felt like an imposter in her own home and began to think something was wrong with her. She felt trapped in her own world, overanalyzing and critiquing everything she was doing. Can you relate? If so, Ciara's new book, "Glasses Off: Seeking God When Your Vision Is Gone," is for you. An author and award-winning business owner, Ciara shares in her new book her struggles to believe that God made her for a specific purpose. But it's a fresh take on the subject that will encourage you to shift your focus and seek God to find your purpose. Ciara, it turns out, is just like you and me: a beautifully complicated, multi-faceted human. And she's here today to share the first chapter from her book, "Glasses Off." EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more. BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series. WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz. STUDY SCRIPTURE. Get inside the collection. BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram. FIGHT FOR GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.  

Each new year brings us a chance to reset. To review and reflect on our time, our dreams and our plans for the days ahead. It's a natural turning of the page. The opening of a new chapter.  I love this verse, from Galatians 6:4-5 (MSG): “Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don't compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.” It might not be New Year's Day, but it is still the new year so let me ask: Are you doing the creative best you can with your own life?  This episode is somewhat of a guided journal session for you to take inventory, reflect and look ahead.  Grab a pen and paper, heat up some tea, light a candle—you know, give it a vibe—and take a few moments to reset.  EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more. BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series. WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz. STUDY SCRIPTURE. Get inside the collection. BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram. FIGHT FOR GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.

What is so amazing about grace? That's the question author Philip Yancey started with when he wrote the book by that title, What's So Amazing About Grace, published in 1997. It went on to sell over 2 million copies. And now, 25 years later, Philip Yancey has released a revised version—updated for the modern day. As the author of 13 Gold Medallion Award-winning books and two ECPA Book of the Year awards, including for What's So Amazing About Grace, Philip will tell you some things never change. As he writes, “Grace is the church's great distinctive. It's the one thing the world cannot duplicate, and the one thing it craves above all else—for only grace can bring hope and transformation to a jaded world.” What does it look like in action? Grace does not excuse sin, he says, but it treasures the sinner. True grace is shocking, scandalous. It shakes our conventions with its insistence on getting close to sinners and touching them with mercy and hope.  How can Christians contend graciously with moral issues that threaten all they hold dear? And how can we become living answers to a world that desperately wants to know, What's So Amazing About Grace? And could use a whole lot more of it. EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more. BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series. WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz. STUDY SCRIPTURE. Get inside the collection. BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram. FIGHT FOR GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.

Happy New Year! It's a whole new year and you could say much of the excitement and buzz of this turning of the calendar is concentrated right now in Pasadena, California, for the Tournament of Roses Rose Parade—America's New Year Celebration. For millions of people around the world, the Rose Parade is an iconic New Year's Day tradition as floral-decorated floats, equestrian units, bands and other Tournament Entries travel some 5-and-a-half miles down Colorado Blvd. This year, 2024, marks the 135th Rose Parade and for more than a century, The Salvation Army has taken to the streets on New Year's Day to march in the Rose Parade. In fact, it is the longest continual band to participate in the parade, having marched consecutively since 1920. It's made up of some 180 Salvation Army musicians and timbrelists from around Southern California and across the country and this year includes a special guest Salvation Army band ensemble from Bromley, England. And those involved know it's one day The Salvation Army reaches millions on TV with song titles like "Amazing Grace" or "Stand up for Jesus" displayed right there on everyone's screen. Leading the charge again this year as Bandmaster and here to share more about the experience with us is Kevin Larsson, Creative Development Director for the Music Department in The Salvation Army Western Territory. Alongside him, Jim Sparks is a Salvationist from Pasadena and is believed to be the longest-running marcher this year as he joins in his 29th Rose Parade. They're giving us the behind the scenes today, what you don't necessarily see on TV and why they love being part of this longstanding tradition. EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more. BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series. WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz. STUDY SCRIPTURE. Get inside the collection. BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram. FIGHT FOR GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.

Merry Christmas! What a day to celebrate, born is the King. Today, Christmas Day, I would love to read you the Christmas story and share a Christmas message from Commissioner Doug Riley. Hopefully, this can be something to play while you're cleaning up Christmas breakfast or getting dressed for Christmas dinner as a quiet few moments for you to reflect on the significance of this day. Born is the King. EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more. BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series. WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz. STUDY SCRIPTURE. Get inside the collection. BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram. FIGHT FOR GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.  

No matter how dark the season is, “By God's abounding grace, Christmas still arrives every year—somehow or other, it comes just the same…to direct our hearts and minds to the story of Christ and his people—and to place our lives and communities within this sacred narrative.” These are the words of Dr. Emily Hunter McGowin from her new book, “Christmas: The Season of Life and Light.” Dr. McGowin is associate professor of theology at Wheaton College, and co-pastors with her husband in the Anglican church. Her new book is part of a series from InterVarsity Press about important dates in the Christian calendar. And I'd say she got the fun assignment: Christmas. Or rather, Christmastide—the 12 days of celebration from Christmas to Epiphany. It's a reflection on the moods, themes, rituals, prayers and Scriptures that mark Christmastide. A resource to help us live fully into both the theology and spiritual practices of the season—one of deep magic.   Because, as she writes, “At the center of the mystery of Christmas is the astonishing fact that God has come to dwell with us.” Some might question the commercialism of Christmas, and yes discernment is key, but as Dr. McGowin would say, God is in the celebration, too. She writes, “God's loving embrace extends to our particulars—noses and toes, meals and gifts, decorations and gift-giving.” The season of life and light. Of timeless beauty. EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more. BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series. WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz. STUDY SCRIPTURE. Get inside the collection. BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram. FIGHT FOR GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.

A “Whole Lotta Little” is one of the songs on Emily Ann Roberts' new country album, Can't Hide Country. A 2015 finalist on NBC's The Voice as a member of team Blake Shelton, Emily Ann went on to release her first single, "Stuck on Me and You" in 2018 and now has released her debut album just ahead of going on tour with Blake Shelton in early 2024. When she's not singing, Emily Ann loves the "old time things," as she would call them, things like cooking and crocheting. Which is why she calls herself the "Yeehaw Meemaw." And now she's turned those needlework skills for good. Emily Ann hand-crocheted a gorgeous throw blanket and is giving it away this holiday season alongside The Salvation Army. Anyone who donates to The Salvation Army through her virtual Red Kettle through December 31 will be entered to win with a winner drawn this New Year's Day. Of course, each donation goes directly to The Salvation Army to help bring joy and relief to families who need it this season and all year long. We're talking with Emily Ann today about what inspires her to do good whenever she can and how you can spread a "whole lotta little" goodness too. EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more. BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series. WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz. STUDY SCRIPTURE. Get inside the collection. BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram. FIGHT FOR GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.