We are facing the epidemic of loneliness in the US. 2 in 5 Americans struggle with loneliness. It has a negative effect on our health equal to smoking 15 cigarettes per day. It also feeds the division and the radicalization in our society and therefore poses threat to democracy.

What is the root of loneliness? It is not just the lack of meaningful interaction with others. Loneliness is the by product of the unmet core needs that every individual has. Loneliness is an empty spot in our soul that can only be met by experiencing the fullness of God’s love. The guest in this episode, York Moore believes that the main obstacle to this is the failure to find the right approach or “love language” in the way God communicates His love to you.

York Moore studied philosophy at the University of Michigan, was an atheist and his nick name was “satan” because he persecuted Christians, until he became one. Today he is a speaker, an evangelist and an author of several books. For more information, visit www.tellthestory.net and follow him on social media channels @yorkmoore.

Resources:

Seen. Known. Loved. By Gary Chapman and York Moore

Blog post by Evan Belosa Loneliness, Radicalization and the Fate of Democracy

Support the podcast: https://rfwma.org/give/

Email us your questions and comments at podcast@rfwma.org

 WMA is 501(c)(3), donations are tax deducible

One of the life altering side effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are deteriorating relationship between people, and particularly the strain it has created in marriages. The conventional marriage has been under attack in recent years. The challenges and the uncertainty that came with the pandemic added to it.

Even without the outside pressure marriages are sacrificed to busy schedules, demands of raising children, careers, and personal desires. We either take our spouse for granted or we give up on the marriage because we eventually come to realize that we can’t change another person.

Or can we?

Dr. Gary Chapman has been helping couples to save and improve marriages and relationships for over two decades. He is the one who discovered the revolutionary concept of 5 love languages that helps us communicate our commitment and appreciation towards each other.

His book The 5 Love Languages® sold over twelve million copies and has been on the New York Times best-sellers list continuously since 2007.

The COVID-19 pandemic inspired him to write his latest book “5 Simple Ways to strengthen your marriage”.  In a very practical and straightforward way it encourages couples to turn the tables on the enemy and look at this as an opportunity make your relationship closer and stronger.

Dr. Chapman’s website is full of helpful resources for marriages and relationships..

In the previous episode Dr. Chapman and I talked about the importance of calling a truce on throwing verbal bombs and how to tear down the emotional walls that are built by unresolved conflict.

In this episode we continue the conversation and explore the practical ways to create team work environment, talked about what does submission mean in marriage and where do we start if we want to see a change in our spouse.

3:50 How to prevent “emotional walls” in a relationship

6:05 Is emotional sensitivity gender specific

7:22 The true meaning of submission in marriage

9:04 5 meaningful ways to express love

12:50 How to build teamwork environment in marriage

14:48 Advice for long distance relationships

16:23 How to build healthy relationships with people around us

Email us: podcast@rfwma.org
Support the podcast: https://rfwma.org/give/

Email us your questions and comments at podcast@rfwma.org

Support the show https://rfwma.org/give/

Support the show (https://rfwma.org/give) WMA is 501(c)(3), donations are tax deducible

“All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” Leo Tolstoy

Whether your marriage is a happy one or a rocky one the last few months have brought new challenges for marriages and relationships. In this interview with the bestselling author, radio host and marriage counselor Dr. Gary Chapman we discuss the signs of trouble in marriages and relationships and practical ways to resolve conflict and strengthen the bond between the spouses. We have always been told one cannot change their spouse …or can you?

Dr. Gary Chapman’s book The 5 Love Languages® sold over twelve million copies and has been on the New York Times best-sellers list continuously since 2007. He has been directly involved in real-life family counseling since the beginning of his ministry years, and his nationally syndicated radio programs air nationally on Moody Radio Network and over 400 affiliate stations.

The COVID-19 pandemic inspired him to write his latest book “5 Simple Ways to strengthen your marriage”.  In a very practical and straightforward way it encourages couples to turn the tables on the enemy and look at this as an opportunity make your relationship closer and stronger.

Dr. Chapman’s website is full of helpful resources for marriages and relationships.

3:06 Dr. Chapman shares what inspired him to write his latest book

5:16 Has COVID-19 pandemic affected the issue of domestic abuse and violence

6:16 Dr. Chapman discusses the ways for a couple to deal with the issue of domestic violence

8:50 Can the pattern of abuse be stopped?

10:21 Signs of a troubled marriage and ways to deal with them

12:50 Can any marriage be saved?

15:23 Tearing down emotional walls

18:27 You can’t change your spouse…or can you?

Email us: podcast@rfwma.org
Support the podcast: https://rfwma.org/give/

Email us your questions and comments at podcast@rfwma.org

Support the show https://rfwma.org/give/

Support the show (https://rfwma.org/give) WMA is 501(c)(3), donations are tax deducible

Statistics show that only 8% of people achieve the goals they have set for themselves. Even those who actively pursue their goals often find themselves struggling with disappointment and dissatisfaction.
Dr. Deb Gorton, the author of the book “Embracing Uncomfortable: Facing your fears while pursuing your purpose” believes that it happens because we often confuse our goals with our life’s purpose.
In this episode we talk about how embracing uncomfortable helps us not only discover our authentic selves and our core values, but also identify the purpose that was intended for us by God. We discuss what God-defined purpose is and is not, the importance of our habits, the dangers hidden in expectations and some practical ways of discovering our purpose.

Dr. Gorton is a theologian and a psychologist earned PhD in Clinical Psychology from Fuller Graduate School of Psychology and MA in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary. She recently published a book “Embracing Uncomfortable: Facing Our Fears While Pursuing Our Purpose.”
1:48 Dr. Deb talks about the difference between “world-defined” and “God-defined” purpose
5:06 We discuss why defining life’s purpose is so important
6:06 How our habits influence our lives
7:28 Why expectations, our own and of others, can be dangerous
10:25 Practical steps in pursuing life’s purpose
12:56 Dr. Deb shares the lessons she learned in the process of embracing uncomfortable

Quotes:
“My purpose transcends situations or relationships I am involved in”
“Achieve goals that align with your purpose”
“Once we embrace our core identity, we no longer have to justify our existence”

Resources:
To purchase the book and learn more about Dr. Deb Gorton visit
https://www.debgorton.com/

Email us: podcast@rfwma.org
Support the podcast: https://rfwma.org/give/

Email us your questions and comments at podcast@rfwma.org

Support the show https://rfwma.org/give/

Support the show (https://rfwma.org/give) WMA is 501(c)(3), donations are tax deducible

Society in the United States and around the world is becoming more and more polarized over issues that are not necessarily the root of the problem but rather the symptoms.

Often these “symptom” issues are political, rather than spiritual and cause a dangerous division in the body of Christ.

Today the United States are in agony over the old and new wounds caused by racism and this seemingly clear issue has been turned into a political battle.

For an open conversation on racism I invited a fellow believer in Christ and a minister of the Gospel with whom we agree on many aspects and disagree on some. It gave me a great hope for the healing of our country. I believe it also shows the extreme importance of the unity in the body of Christ!

The root of the problems we are facing is the battle between good and evil. If we pursue Christ with all of our hearts, we inevitably find ourselves on the right side of the most complex issues, even if we disagree on the “symptoms”.

 My guest today, is Pastor Clyde Ruffin, senior pastor of the Second Baptist Church in Columbia, MO,  professor emeritus at the University of Missouri, representative for the First Ward and Mayor Pro Tem for the city of Columbia, MO, a husband to Sheila for 43 years,  father of four, grandfather of six and a spiritual father to many.

Email us: podcast@rfwma.org
Support the podcast: https://rfwma.org/give/

Email us your questions and comments at podcast@rfwma.org

Support the show https://rfwma.org/give/

Support the show (https://rfwma.org/give) WMA is 501(c)(3), donations are tax deducible

Nobody likes pain, nobody likes giving something up, nobody likes leaving the comfort zone. But constantly conforming to what is comfortable and familiar can lead us to unhappiness, dissatisfaction and sometimes a crisis.

What happens if we decide instead of avoiding what is uncomfortable embrace it?

Dr Deb Gorton promises that if you are willing to take this chance, the reward is incredibly significant.

Dr. Gorton is a theologian and a psychologist earned PhD in Clinical Psychology from Fuller Graduate School of Psychology and MA in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary. She recently published a book “Embracing Uncomfortable: Facing Our Fears While Pursuing Our Purpose.”

In this book she warns us that without being challenged we often lose the site of our true identity, compromise our core values and most importantly fail to fulfill our God-given purpose.

Key moments of the interview:

2:24 Dr. Deb shares how a personal tragedy started her on a pursuit of her identity

4:13 Why a person often develops a misguided understanding of self

5:48 Dr. Deb explains the concept of the “comfort myth”

7:00 How do we identify our core values

9:35 Dr. Deb shares how COVID-19 pandemic has helped her focus on what is truly important

12:13 Benefits of learning to embrace the uncomfortable

16:45 Key takeawyas

Quote: “Discomfort for a short period of time helps us create lasting long-term comfort”

Resources:

Buy Dr. Deb Gorton’s book here:

https://www.amazon.com/Embracing-Uncomfortable-Facing-Pursuing-Purpose/dp/0802419569

Learn more about Dr. Deb Gorton

https://www.debgorton.com/about

Email us your questions and comments at podcast@rfwma.org

Support the show https://rfwma.org/give/

Support the show (https://rfwma.org/give) WMA is 501(c)(3), donations are tax deducible

There is a deep divide in our society over the issue of reopening the economies versus continuing lockdowns and thus keeping people safe.

Who is right? What is a moral responsibility of a Christian when faced with this dilemma? What must we do to help ourselves while contributing to the well-being of the society in the face of COVID-19 pandemic?

Our guest if Phillip Todd, economic policy analyst for the US Senate, leadership team member of the National Economists Club and a committed Christian.

He shares his thoughts on both sides of the issue, addresses some of the conflicting economic relief policies and quotes one of his favorite verses to guide the process of deciding.

Quote: “What is best for you is not a government decision”

3:07 His view why both sides of the issue are valid

4:31 He shares what is the right approach to moving forward amidst the COVID-19 pandemic

5:29 His thoughts on how to apply “sound mind” in the process of deciding what is right for you

9:00 He addresses the conflict between the two relief policies

14:58 He discuss personal responsibility as a moral objective for a Christian

Email us your questions and comments at podcast@rfwma.org

Support the show https://rfwma.org/give/

Support the show (https://rfwma.org/give) WMA is 501(c)(3), donations are tax deducible

COVID-19 pandemic continues to induce a significant amount of worry, fear, uncertainty, and stress in the hearts and minds of people. It has put people who are struggling with depression at a greater risk now more than ever.

To provide some much-needed guidance as we deal with this pressing issue, we have with us again Dr. Jennifer Thomas. Dr. Jen is a TEDx speaker, leadership consultant, bestselling author, and psychologist with a doctorate in clinical psychology.

In the previous episode, we talked about the fact why depression is one of the largest health issues in the world, whether it is genetically inherited and whether it is curable.

In this episode Dr. Jen shares her thoughts on the use of antidepressant medications and why some benefit from them while others don’t. She discusses with the host Helen Todd the possible reasons why certain segments of population are more at risk and what aspects of life can protect us from depression and suicidal thoughts. Dr Jen discusses the warning signs in a person struggling with depression and how a friend or a family member can help.

 Key Takeaways:

2:21 Dr. Jen’s concern about prescription medications for depression

3:01 Dr. Jen’s thoughts on genetic research to discover the cause of depression

4:11 Dr. Jen explains how antidepressants work

8:08 Dr. Jen shares her thoughts why teenagers and females are at a higher risk for having suicidal thoughts

10:15 What provides a protective effect from depression later in life

11:15 How to help a loved one with depression and the warning signs to look for

16:19 The fine line between being supportive and co-dependent

19:00 Dr. Jen’s favorite Bible verse to encourage hope

 Helpful resources:

The first step in suicide prevention is awareness — knowing when someone is in crisis. That’s often not obvious, because many people suffer in silence or give no sign that they might harm themselves. As a family member, friend, neighbor, or colleague, you can make a difference by using the Columbia Protocol — also known as Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) — to help determine when someone is at risk for suicide and how to help.

National Suicide Prevention Hotline

1-800-273-8255

Genetic testing and antidepressants (article on Mayo Clinic website)

 Article on pharmacogenomics

Dr Jen Thomas used 23andMe to learn about her genetics. Here is her referral link: https://refer.23andme.com/s/sorrytube

Personal and professional coaching sessions with Dr. Jennifer Thomas are available by telephone. For details, send an email with “Coaching” in the subject line to booking@drjenniferthomas.com.

Buy the book “When sorry isn’t enough” by Dr. Gary Chapman and Dr. Jennifer Thomas :
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0802407048?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0802407048&linkCode=xm2&tag=drjenthomas-20  

 Email us your questions and comments at podcast@rfwma.org

Support the show https://rfwma.org/give/

Support the show (https://rfwma.org/give) WMA is 501(c)(3), donations are tax deducible

As the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the world, it also induced a significant amount of worry, fear, uncertainty, and stress in the hearts and minds of people. It has also put people who are struggling with depression at a greater risk now more than ever.

To provide some much-needed guidance as we deal with this pressing issue, we have with us again Dr. Jennifer Thomas. Dr. Jen is a TEDx speaker, leadership consultant, bestselling author, and psychologist with a doctorate in clinical psychology.

Listen in as Dr. Jen gives us an insight into what depression really is, the connection between depression and anxiety, and what the ideal approach to depression should be. If you or a loved one is suffering from depression, you’ll surely find today’s episode of tremendous value so don’t miss it!

Key Takeaways
03:33 Why depression is the world’s largest health problem
04:44 What depression really is
06:19 The connection between depression and anxiety
07:27 What she has observed in her practice when it comes to depression
09:21 What major depressive disorder is
10:24 The impact of depression on pastors
12:34 What she thinks the ideal approach should be when it comes to depression
14:10 What the rule is when it comes to depression

Quotes
“What we know is that happiness is not directly related to socio-economic status or availability of resources.”
“Just as diabetes runs in families, then depression may also run in your family.”
“Whereas with anxiety, it’s hard to live with but it doesn’t often take people’s lives.”
“All this loss of security and stability that we typically have here in the industrialised world, then I do see depression as a result of the rug being pulled out from under us, I really do.”
“We’re gonna let people know that you don’t have to suffer through this alone even in the midst of a shutdown. There are resources out there to help.’
“The work of the counselor or psychologist is to help them recognize these automatic thoughts and to try to have a more positive outlook and to increase their ways of coping so when the next cycle comes, they might be able to continue to function.”

 Helpful resources:

National Suicide Prevention Hotline
https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
1-800-273-8255

Personal and professional coaching sessions with Dr. Jennifer Thomas are available by telephone. For details, send an email with “Coaching” in the subject line to booking@drjenniferthomas.com.

Buy the book “When sorry isn’t enough” by Dr. Gary Chapman and Dr. Jennifer Thomas :
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0802407048?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=0802407048&linkCode=xm2&tag=drjenthomas-20  

 Email us your questions and comments at podcast@rfwma.org

Support the show https://rfwma.org/give/

Support the show (https://rfwma.org/give) WMA is 501(c)(3), donations are tax deducible

In this episode we continue the conversation with Dr. Richard Bartlett, a physician from Odessa, TX who is fighting the battle with COVID-19 on the frontlines

Dr. Bartlett is using the “common sense medicine” approach to successfully treat his patients with COVID-19. His approach came to him in a dream from God, has produced great results in his patients and is similar to the approach used in South Korea, Singapore, Iceland and Sweden – the countries that seem to have a great success in handling the pandemic.
In this episode he talks with the host Helen Todd about the importance of placing the decision on the type of treatment necessary for the patients in the office of a physician rather than a politician., discusses potential problems with relying on a development of a vaccine as the only solution to conquering the pandemic, shares the examples of at-risk patients dully recovering  when there is no limitations to testing and treatment, and shares his thoughts on how to move forward without fear.

Dr. Bartlett, MD has practiced medicine for 26 years, served as medical Director of public and private ambulance services, hospitals, and emergency rooms. He is the recipient of the Meritorious Service Award from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. In the 2002 he was appointed by the Governor of Texas for a two-year assignment on Texas Health Disparities Task force as the advisor to the Governor, Lt. Governor, and the Speaker of the House on improving access to quality healthcare for all Texans. He has been CBS News Medical Expert of West Texas for 20 years.

 Key Takeaways

2:00 A success story of an at-risk patient treated early by Dr Bartlett

4:41 One of the CDC guidelines that still endangers us

6:15 How Dr Bartlett’s method changed the guidelines in a local Health Department

7:10 Summary of the treatment plan that was revealed to him by God

9:44 Concerns about political interference the COVID-19 treatment

11:50 The problems with the potential vaccine

15:24 What changes should be made to testing guidelines on a state level

17:40 Limited testing if often a hospital’s choice

23:40 The issue of patients’ advocacy and other limitations of personal freedom

25:36 How do we move forward without fear?

27:19   The power of common-sense medicine

28:19 A Biblical word of encouragement

30:08  Is there a benefit to antibody testing?

 32:50  Can COVID-19 be eradicated?

Helpful resources

Current CDC guidelines for testing and treating COVID-19 

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/testing.html

Article from NIH on benefits of Hydroxychloroquine for patients with HIV

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8565026

Hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin as a treatment of COVID-19: results of an open-label non-randomized clinical trial

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7102549/

Doctors don’t need virus diagnosis from US politicians

https://asiatimes.com/2020/04/doctors-dont-need-virus-diagnosis-from-us-politicians/

 Email us your questions and comments at podcast@rfwma.org

Support the show https://rfwma.org/give/

Check out Dr Bartlett’s book “Journey of a medicine man” https://rfwma.org/product/journey-of-a-medicine-man/

Support the show (https://rfwma.org/give) WMA is 501(c)(3), donations are tax deducible

The world is preparing for a gradual re-opening of the economy, but do we have this pandemic under control? Are we ready to go back to our normal lives without the fear of going through another shut down soon down the road?

Today’s guest Dr Richard Bartlett from Odessa, TX feels that the current approach to COVID-19 pandemic in the US has two major flaws that prevent us from successfully moving forward.

Dr. Bartlett, MD has practiced medicine for 26 years, served as medical Director of public and private ambulance services, hospitals, and emergency rooms. He is the recipient of the Meritorious Service Award from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. In the 2002 he was appointed by the Governor of Texas for a two-year assignment on Texas Health Disparities Task force as the advisor to the Governor, Lt. Governor, and the Speaker of the House on improving access to quality healthcare for all Texans. He has been CBS News Medical Expert of West Texas for 20 years.

In this episode he talks with the host Helen Todd about what is the key difference between COVID 19 and all the other viruses known in history, why the current approach to tackling the pandemic can’t produce results, what are the major obstacles to his successful treatment of the patients and shares the example of a patient who has suffered as a result of the flawed approach.

Key Takeaways

02:58 Why this health crisis is unlike any others he has experienced in his lifetime

04:24 What makes COVID-19 so unique from any other virus in history

09:23 Why he believes the current CDC criteria for testing is flawed

11:42 Example of how the flawed criteria for testing produces dangerous results

15:08 What specifically makes COVID-19 deadly

16:33 What is the right approach to testing

19:40 What are the main obstacles he faces in treating patients with COVID-19

21:40 The obstacles his patients face in getting tested

22:00 The obstacles he faces in providing treatment for patients

26:00 Story of a patient who was refused testing which led to her being on a ventilator in the hospital

Current CDC guidelines for testing and treating COVID-19
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/testing.html

Email us your questions and comments at podcast@rfwma.org
Support the show https://rfwma.org/give/
Check out Dr Bartlett’s book “Journey of a medicine man” https://rfwma.org/product/journey-of-a-medicine-man/

Support the show (https://rfwma.org/give) WMA is 501(c)(3), donations are tax deducible

Today’s episode is the second installment of our conversation with Dr. Jennifer Thomas, TEDx speaker, leadership consultant, bestselling author, and psychologist with a doctorate in clinical psychology.

In this episode, Dr. Jen shared how to craft an apology that restores broken relationships, when to best use the 5 apology languages, and what to do if you’ve apologized and the other person is still upset.

If you’d like to know how to create an apology that brings emotional healing and mends broken relationships, don’t miss this episode!

Key Takeaways
02:33 Which is better: “I’m sorry” or “I was wrong”
03:44 How one is different from the other
04:46 Basis for research
05:14 Main apology languages
06:51 The importance of knowing other people’s apology language
08:05 When to best use the 5 apology languages
09:08 What to do if you’ve apologized but the other party is still upset
11:52 What the ideal apology should be from a leader or authority figure
13:17 An example of a perfect apology
16:04 Practical applications of the apology languages
17:02 The main take away

Quotes
“I think of ‘I’m sorry’ as focusing on the heart and feelings and I think of ‘I was wrong’ as focusing on the head in terms of more black and white.”
“If you don’t know their apology language or if it’s a group of people, so you wanna use all five.”
“If two things are true: if the mistake you made is either very serious or if it’s a habit, it’s been repeated, then most likely that person is gonna wanna hear something more than your reflexive ‘I’m sorry,’ or whatever you usually say.
“It’s very important that we not demand forgiveness on the spot.”

Link

When Sorry Isn’t Enough: Making Things Right with Those You Love by Gary Chapman and Jennifer Thomas – https://www.amazon.com/When-Sorry-Isnt-Enough-Making/dp/0802407048
Take a free apology profile, register for her e-newsletter, and learn more about her books. Visit her at www.drjenthomas.com.

Support the show (https://rfwma.org/give) WMA is 501(c)(3), donations are tax deducible

Regardless of how careful we are, we sometimes say and do things that can hurt others, even those who are most dear to us. What many people don’t realize however is, even if we say sorry, it is often not enough. Fortunately, if we know the right things to say, we will not only restore our relationships, we’ll also heal emotionally.

Today’s guest is Dr. Jennifer Thomas, a psychologist with a doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Maryland. Dr. Jen is also a leadership consultant, TEDx speaker, and a bestselling author. Together with Dr. Gary Chapman, they wrote the book “When Sorry Isn’t Enough.”

Join us as we talk about apology—why it’s important, how it can impact your spiritual health, and the impact it has on the person doing it. You’ll surely see apologizing from a totally different light after this!

Key Takeaways

03:49 Why apology is so essential to society and to people personally

04:37 How the roadblock can be traumatic for the other person when you don’t apologize

05:21 How being able to apologize can heal you emotionally

06:33 How apologizing can impact the person doing it

07:46 The importance of apology to your spiritual health

09:16 Why saying sorry is not enough

10:03 The magic words people look for in an apology

13:32 What most people want to hear

Quotes

“What we want to encourage people to do is to stop and think about what the other person might really be waiting for us to say or do.”

“When we ask someone to forgive us, we’re actually asking for quite a lot.”

“We’re supposed to be thinking about where we’ve hurt others.”

“The important thing is not to leave out what the person most wants to hear.”

“Sincerity is the key thing.

Take a free apology profile, register for her e-newsletter, and learn more about her books. Visit her at www.drjenthomas.com.

Support the show (https://rfwma.org/give) WMA is 501(c)(3), donations are tax deducible

This episode continues our conversation with Rabbi Kirt Schneider, a Christian Jewish believer, author, and the host of the popular television program “Discovering the Jewish Jesus.”

In this episode, Rabbi Kirt shared 2 more practical steps that can help us take our personal faith to the next level. He also shares profound wisdom and advice on how to deal with fear in mind and soul especially during these trying times.

If you need something bright and encouraging to hold on to and would like some guidance on how to address fear in your heart and mind, this episode is for you!

Key Takeaways

03:02 Practical step to spiritual growth number 2

05:54 Practical step to spiritual growth number 3

07:46 Rabbi Kirt Schneider’s advice to people who are struggling with fear

09:35 Practical ways to deal with fear

Quotes

“God is already here, right where you’re at right now, right where I’m at right now.”

“To walk in the peace of God, we have to root ourselves in that reality.”

“Whether we feel him or not, we have to affirm the truth that God is here.”

“It’s possible to have peace in our soul and yet still be battling in our minds but what comes first is peace in the soul.”

“The word of God is our standard.”

“Probably close to a hundred percent of the things that you and I are worried about has never happened.”

Learn more about Rabbi Kirt Schneider and check out his newest book here:
https://discoveringthejewishjesus.com/

Support the show (https://rfwma.org/give) WMA is 501(c)(3), donations are tax deducible

In light of the current COVID-19 epidemic and the infestation of desert locusts in Africa, many Christians find themselves asking what the mission of the church is during these challenging times. How can people offer hope, truth, and love during times of adversity? To help us bring out that hidden potential in each of us, we talked to Rabbi Kirt Schneider.

Rabbi Kirt Schneider is a Christian Jewish believer and the host of the popular television program “Discovering the Jewish Jesus.” He has also authored several books including “Experiencing the Supernatural: How to Saturate You Life with the Power and Presence of God” and “Self-Deliverance: How to Gain Victory Over the Powers of Darkness.”

Join us in today’s episode and discover how you can unleash the power within you and use it for God’s glory!

Key Takeaways
05:04 What is the greater purpose for the church and every Christian especially in today’s challenging times?
07:20 The relevant way to peach the Gospel
11:04 What does it take for a Christian to walk at a higher level
14:39 Helen’s takeaway from the episode

Quotes
“The gospel needs to be preached but it needs to be preached in a way that is relevant and makes Jesus real to people.”
“I think the relevant way demands discernment.”
“The Gospel principles are never changed.”
“God is looking for somebody to love Him back.”
“A love for Jesus is not a feeling. It’s a decision.”

Learn more about Rabbi Kirt Schneider and check out his newest book here:
https://discoveringthejewishjesus.com/

Support the show (https://rfwma.org/give) WMA is 501(c)(3), donations are tax deducible

In this episode, we continue the conversation with Danny Skaggs, Founder of Pharmacy Unlimited and author of the book “Prescription for Breakthrough”. We dig into the subject of prosperity, wealth, finances, tithing, and many others. Danny also shares about a miracle he experienced when he trusted God’s promise to provide for him and his needs.

We discuss what is true prosperity, who should prosper , is tithing a principle for today and how your current need just might be an opportunity for you to prosper.

Key Takeaways
01:52 Is it okay for people to prosper?
03:41 Prosperity defined
04:21 Who  should prosper?
06:14 How much is too much when it comes to wealth ?
08:17 The miracle of giving
12:35 The view on tithe/tithing
14:08 Where tithes should go ?

Quotes
“Being fruitful is I think a paradigm of heaven and I think that’s how God created us and that’s what He expects.”
“When baptized in Holy Spirit, we have the power of God in us for multiplication and for being fruitful for success.”
“When money becomes our God, that is the root of all evil.”
“Any believer that has confidence in God’s word and what God intends for us, I think any believer will prosper.”
“If we’re following God’s word, if we’re seeking Him and His righteousness first, He’s gonna provide our needs.”
“The more we praise, the more we bless, the more we spoke his promises over our circumstance, the more they change and the more provision that was there.”
“Money, things, are just tools but the true wealth is in our spirit, in our soul.”
“It was an opportunity to give with a guaranteed return.”
“The measure that you use is what will come back to you.”

The book “prescription for Breakthrough” by Danny Skaggs is available on Amazon for $9.95

Support the show (https://rfwma.org/give) WMA is 501(c)(3), donations are tax deducible

Even if you are a person of faith, dealing with setbacks and overcoming obstacles can become overwhelming at times. It is reassuring to know however that God is more powerful than any circumstances and will provide all the help you need if you just ask Him. This is something today’s guest can also attest to.

Danny Skaggs is the founder of Pharmacy Unlimited. He is also the author of the fascinating book “Prescription for Breakthrough: Applying Transformative Faith Principles to Your Biggest Challenges.” In the book, Danny chronicled the business challenges he encountered and how he successfully weathered them all through God’s help.

Tune in and be amazed by Danny’s extraordinary faith in God and discover how you too can apply his winning principles in your own life!

Key Takeaways
02:13 What inspired him to write the book and the people he wrote the book for
03:58 What “pivotal advantage” means
06:10 What he has learned from the trials he experienced
07:20 What he ended up doing unwittingly in his business
08:09 What he realized about the spiritual and the physical world
10:13 How he dealt with the “waiting period”
13:48 The fine line between waiting on God and not dealing with the problem
15:00 Three key ingredients to a breakthrough
17:15 Where to purchase “Prescription for Breakthrough”
17:45 Helen’s key takeaways

Quotes
“It was by the hand of God that we were able to stay in business.”
“Do things God’s way and you’ll be taken care of, you’ll be provided for.”
“We thought we needed money or gold and actually what we needed was wisdom and blessing of the Lord.”
“When we couldn’t get the money, then we turned to heaven for an answer and we began speaking God’s promises into our business. And as we did, the business turned around. Our needs for cash or money were met and we gradually became more and more prosperous.”
“We did everything that we could humanly do to help the business and we allowed Him to provide the backup strength, the backup provision, the backup blessing that we couldn’t provide.”
“We routinely asked for His help.”
“One of the things Jesus said was, ‘If you need something, keep asking. Don’t give up. Keep asking.’”

Support the show (https://rfwma.org/give) WMA is 501(c)(3), donations are tax deducible

In the previous episode, we learned about the story of 3 people whose lives were predetermined by God to cross 50 years prior. We also learned about Billy Krieger’s encounter with Mr. Tong which eventually culminated in a touching moment of destiny.

In today’s episode, we talked to another “unwilling” participant that day who responded to God’s call with unconditional obedience. Laurie Ball-Gisch is an artist and sheep farmer from Michigan. Just like Billy, she too had an amazing encounter with Mr. Tong that fateful day.

Listen in as she recounted a beautiful story of salvation and healing, all because she obeyed God’s call unconditionally!

Key Takeaways
03:30 Her thoughts about the war in Vietnam
04:22 The part of the book that made a huge impact on her
06:48 How she felt about the people of Cambodia after reading the book
08:19 How her interaction with the lieutenant went
10:15 How the lieutenant accepted Jesus in his life

Quotes
“When we talk in the spirit and we’re talking to Him, He knows our hearts so well.”
“He was really weaving the tapestry of all of us that day .”
“I went over to Thailand to see a manifestation of salvation and healing at once, together.”
“We’re blessed when we get to bless others through the Holy Spirit.”

Support the show (https://rfwma.org/give) WMA is 501(c)(3), donations are tax deducible

While “living a life of destiny” has become somewhat of a cliche among Christians, not many know what it really means.

In the next 2 episodes we look at a story of 3 individuals whose lives were predestined to cross. How did each one of them responded to this call of destiny and what was the end result of the encounter is a powerful illustration of how a life of destiny differs from a life of fate.

In today’s episode, we interviewed Billy Krieger, a retired US Army veteran, who has served in several wars including the Vietnam war and the war in Iraq.

Currently, Billy is pursuing his passion for sharing his Christian faith in different countries. He has also returned to some of the countries he had served as a soldier with a message of love and peace.

In one of his visits, he had an encounter with a former lieutenant from the Hmong minority tribe. Listen in as Billy recounts his life as a soldier before and after he became a Christian and how his encounter with Mr. Tong culminated in a beautiful moment of destiny!

Key Takeaways

• What his experience was like when he first went to Vietnam
• What prompted him to commit his life to God
• The difference between serving in Vietnam and not having his life committed to Christ versus serving in other war zones as a Christian
• How he felt about his “enemies” after he became a Christian
• What made him realize it was the best time to visit Thailand
• What his encounter with Mr. Tong was like
• What his favorite part about being involved in the Great Commission is

Quotes
“I think the Lord was always tugging at my heartstrings.”
“Once you know the Lord, you have a certain compassion for the enemy that you don’t have.”

Support the show (https://rfwma.org/give) WMA is 501(c)(3), donations are tax deducible

Today’s episode is the second part of our conversation with Jason Thacker, the creative director and associate research fellow at the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. Jason is also the author of the book “The Age of AI: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity.”

Visit Jason’s website to learn more about his work with AI and pre-order his book today. Follow Jason on Twitter @jasonthacker and like his page on Facebook @jthackerERLC.

In this second installment, Jason provided enlightenment and wisdom on some of the interesting and thought-provoking questions related to humanity and artificial intelligence.

If you want to thrive in this AI-empowered world and see it from the Christian perspective, don’t miss today’s episode!

Key Takeaways:
01:35 On human beings and general intelligence
03:03 On the possibility of creating general AI
06:20 The opinions of members of different faiths on the topic of AI
08:44 How AI is being used in mission applications
09:29 How tools can be used to communicate truth
11:07 Benefits of these tools
11:39 His take on having a global framework for the use of AI
11:59 How the world can be safe when using AI
12:58 What he wants to do through his book
14:28 On the discussions and dialogues that should be done regarding AI
16:42 The most important thing Christians needs to know and what they can do to make a difference when it comes to AI
18:39 One of the primary reasons he wrote his book “The Age of AI: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity”
19:23 How people can purchase his book

Quotes:
“A lot of times when we think about artificial intelligence, we do think about it from this more materialistic type of sense.”
“You’re a human being not because of what you can do, not because you can think, not because you have these abilities, whether physical or mental abilities. You’re a human being and the essence of that is the image of God.”
“You cannot lose the image of God. You are created in God’s image and that’s a designation, something that God has given you and you can’t redefine that.”
“While we’re the crowning point of creation, we’re not God in ourselves.”
“We can also use these tools to communicate truth.”
“In no point should these tools become a substitute for authentic Christian community.”

Support the show (https://rfwma.org/give) WMA is 501(c)(3), donations are tax deducible

The idea of artificial intelligence (AI) competing with humans is no longer a far-fetched concept as it was many decades prior. After all, we now have AI who can detect illness far better than human doctors, can create more sophisticated algorithms than human developers, and can even beat world champions at chess.

The superior capabilities of artificial intelligence in various fields have scientists, the tech community, and the general public concerned. For Christians, the ethical challenges of our ongoing interactions with artificial intelligence has become a point of concern.

To help us navigate this AI-empowered age, we talked to Jason Thacker. Jason is the creative director and an associate research fellow at the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. He is also the author of the book “The Age of AI: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity.”

In this episode, Jason answered many of our pressing concerns regarding artificial intelligence. More importantly, he provided valuable wisdom and insights so we can tackle this brand new world from the position of confidence and hope.

Visit Jason’s website to learn more about his work with AI and pre-order his book today. Follow Jason on Twitter @jasonthacker and like his page on Facebook @jthackerERLC.

In this episode:

03:21 When his book is coming out

03:24 What prompted him to write the book “The Age of AI: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity”

05:37 Specific incident/event that caused him to look deeper into AI

08:23 Aspects of AI people should be concerned about from the prospective of faith

11:37 The difference between narrow and general AI

13:46 Big existential question related to AI

Quotes:

“As we’re engaging with these tools every day, there’s a lot of big questions that arise from it.”

“I think this is a great time for the church to be proactively engaging and engaging from a position of hope.”

“The world view of materialism is kinda rearing its head again through the sciences and through technology and as Christians, I think that’s really concerning.”

“One of the things that we have to keep in mind especially in this day and age is the difference between what is called narrow AI and what’s called general AI.”

Support the show (https://rfwma.org/give) WMA is 501(c)(3), donations are tax deducible

This episode is the second installment of our interview with Dr. Inge Auerbarcher. Among other things, we’ll discover how her past helped shape the person she is today and where she drew strength from during those trying times.

Dr. Auerbarcher exhibited incredible resilience and heart in the face of trials and adversities. More than anything however, she showed us that while we can’t change the past, we can always choose how to respond to it—an option that makes us truly powerful!

Key Takeaways

01:28 How she felt when she was inflicted with an infectious disease
04:30 Where she drew strength from during those trying and discouraging times
07:26 How her past helped shape who she is today
08:33 Advice she’d give to someone who struggles with the pain of the past

Quotes
“I was determined. I am going to make it! I will! And I will be one of the best students in the school.”
“I have to take advantage of the life that was given to me.”
“I never lost faith in God, ever.”
“I felt I had the obligation to make something of myself since one and a half million children did not get that opportunity.”
“I think each person has to deal with their own life.”
“I am not the person who says ‘Woe is me’.”
“I feel God has a plan and things somehow work out for the best.”
“Nobody can make you happy. You have to make yourself happy.”

Support the show (https://rfwma.org/give) WMA is 501(c)(3), donations are tax deducible

Why does God allow terrible things to happen to people? This is a question even those who are committed to God find hard to answer. Fortunately, in today’s episode we’ll not only hear a story of evil and suffering but also of survival and triumph.

Dr. Inge Auerbarcher is an American chemist of German origin, an inspirational speaker, and a prolific author. She is also a human rights activist and a Holocaust survivor. At 7 years old, she was deported to the Theresienstadt ghetto in Czechoslovakia together with her parents. She was also forced to wear a yellow star that identified her as a Jew.

In this episode, we’ll not only learn about Dr. Auerbarcher’s brave and inspirational journey, we’ll also discover how she turned her yellow star of shame into a real star.

In this Episode:

06:07 Who is Inge Auerbarcher
07:05 How she felt about the people who have hurt her, her loved ones, and her people
09:02 On whether or not she has encountered people who were former Nazis during her travels

Support the show (https://rfwma.org/give) WMA is 501(c)(3), donations are tax deducible

An interview with an Iraqi refugee whose life turned into a crisis because he became a Christian. How he made the most difficult choice in his life, the greatest challenge of being a refugee, his opinion on the refugee policy and a new chapter in his family’s life.

Support the show (https://rfwma.org/give) WMA is 501(c)(3), donations are tax deducible

Becoming a Christian will cost you nothing. Being a Christian however comes with a high price. And interview with an Iraqi refugee whose life turned into a crisis because he became a Christian.

Support the show (https://rfwma.org/give) WMA is 501(c)(3), donations are tax deducible

Podcast about the impact of faith and Christian identity in today’s world.  Practical, inspiring and thought-provoking content for a Christian who wants to make a difference.

Host: Helen Todd grew up in the Soviet Union under the rule of God-less socialism. She was set free by a Gospel tract smuggled into her country by missionaries.  As the Vice President of World Missions Alliance, Helen has traveled to the world’s “hot spots”, war zones, natural disaster sites and countries under oppressive regimes to share the life-changing message of the Gospel.

Support the show (https://rfwma.org/give) WMA is 501(c)(3), donations are tax deducible