Challenging the Culture with Truth Podcasts
On Idols, Part 2 with Jay Christianson
In our previous episode, Dr. Jay Christianson of HighBeam Ministry, and I had a conversation about idols and defined them as anything subtle or blatant that comes into our lives and takes us away from keeping God first. Our culture is a good example of how things can easily be innocent at first … until that innocence turns into a deadly idol. In this episode, we continue our discussion about idols and how we can keep idols from taking over our lives Visit HighBeam Ministry
From Lamb to Lion with Jay Christianson
Jesus is seen in the Scriptures as Creator, Redeemer, and Judge. In this episode, we’ll explore these ideas. In Revelation 6, there is a phrase, “the wrath of the Lamb,” meaning that the Lamb that was slain on the Cross has now come to judge the world. In other words, from Lamb to Lion. This same Jesus who is the Lamb of God will return as a Lion to bring conclusion to this world, and present to His Father His Kingdom purchased by His Blood. Dr. Jay Christianson of HighBeam Ministry is my guest and we talk through this theme. You will find our conversation enlightening. Visit HighBeam Ministry
On Idols, Part 1 with Jay Christianson
In the Old Testament, one of the constant struggles for Israel was idols. Everywhere they looked there was idol worship, and the culture had a lot of influence on God’s people. Nothing has changed much since those days. Idols are everywhere in our culture, and it’s hard not to get involved. In this episode, Dr. Jay Christianson of HighBeam Ministry and I talk about idols and how they interfere in our lives … often unnoticed by us. This is Part 1 on this theme, and next week we will conclude this theme. Visit HighBeam Ministry
Roots of Change with Craig Sulentic
I have often wondered, when a Christian leaves the faith or is caught is some kind of un-Christian like behavior, what happens to that person in their discipling process? Now, no one is beyond temptation and often many of us slip and fall, but we remember how to return to God through Jesus Christ. I think some of the problem lies with how we were trained, or as we like to say in the church ‘discipled.’ I know in business when an employee is lacking in performance, it can usually be traced to how they were on-board or trained when they started. Discipleship is our training period … it never stops. But with time and experience, discipleship molds who we are and what we do. In this episode, I talk with the Chairman of the CitySites Board of Directors, Craig Sulentic. He is a wealth of wisdom and insight, and our theme will focus on the root changes that have to transpire in our discipleship process.
Is There Hope in the Land? with Walt McFadden
One of the questions Jesus asked about His return is will He find faith on earth when He returns? His question makes one think that faith may be a hard commodity to find when He returns. Hope is the same kind of commodity. Can hope be found in this world without God? Dr. John McArthur opens this episode with some insights on why the church exists, and George Barna tells us about the loss of church attendance since the COVID-19 pandemic. Join me and my guest, Pastor Walt McFadden from Cityview Church in South Minneapolis, as we talk about finding hope in the land. Visit Cityview Church
Honesty, Integrity, and Character with Chris Heeb
In this episode, I talk with a guest who has been on my Podcast in the past, and he is one of my go to people when I want an honest answer on questions of practice in the church today. His honesty about attending church is a wound that I believe needs to be healed, but he is not alone in his story. His story could be told thousands of times from people whose personal wounds have been inflicted by a Christian leader. We present a story of how trust can be eroded by dishonest leaders who present the wrong image of Christ. We leave the Podcast with the message that Honesty, Integrity, and Character are the goals of any ministry whose message is Christ. We are hopeful by talking about what destroys trust in the church helps those who have experienced the pain of disappointment by their trusted leaders. Visit Chris Heeb Ministry
Barking Dogs, Part 2 with Jay Christianson
This is the second of a two-part series about the silencing of the church on issues we need to be pushing back on. Isaiah 56:10 talks about leaders who aren’t being vocal on moral or cultural issues that are toxic for society as a whole. Those who are silent are like dogs who cannot bark or warn of pending destruction, based upon the ideas and movements we are now facing every day. In this episode, my conversation continues with Dr. Jay Christianson from HighBeam Ministry. Visit HighBeam Ministry
Barking Dogs, Part 1 with Jay Christianson
Today, there are voices in society that are louder than most, and some voices are so soft that they don’t even exist. In this episode, we talk about the Barking Dogs of Isaiah 56:10 that warn on issues that are harmful or dangerous to our culture. Dr. Jay Christianson is my guest. Recently, and we had a conversation about the silence of the church and our lack of barking or warning on issues being promoted perpetually in our society. We would like to bring you into that conversation here and now. Dr. Jay Christianson is the founder and President of HighBeam Ministry. Visit High BeamMinistry
The Change Agent with Damon West and Nathan Unruh
Every once in a while, you run across a story about a person whose future is ruined. Such was the case with Damon West, he was to serve a life sentence for crimes he committed. God got ahold of his life in prison, and we tell the rest of the story in this episode. Damon, Nathan, and myself hope you will pass this along to people you think would benefit from Damon West’s testimony. Listen in as Damon shares his remarkable story … stay with it until the end, you won’t regret it. Visit Damon West Visit Nathan Unruh
Blind Spots with Shawn Morrison
Everyone has blind spots. They are hard to identify because they have to be pointed out to us. For some, therapy has been successful because their blind spots are identified and a plan for change is developed. Most of us continue with our lives without identifying our blind spots … even when these blind spots bring us trouble, we continue to ignore their presence. In this episode, I have a conversation with Reverend Shawn Morrison about Blind Spots, and how they manifest themselves in our lives. Listen in and find out how to identify your Blind Spots. Visit Shawn Morrison
Omission of Conviction with Chris Heeb
It has been reported that 98% of Christians have never shared their faith with anyone. The late Pastor Adrian Rogers said that if you are not sharing your faith, he questions the reality of a personal salvation. So, in this episode, I talk with Chris Heeb about the reality of sharing our faith, and what prohibits us from freely sharing the Gospel with our close relatives, friends, and co-workers? We have concluded that unless we develop a strong conviction about heaven and hell, we probably won’t share too much with anyone. The big question is simply … are we convinced it is our job to bring people to Christ and if so, how well are we doing? Jesus gave us one assignment: “go into all the world and make disciples.” Listen in and enjoy our conversation. Visit Chris Heeb Ministry
What is Next? with Tom Parrish
What is next? Good question. Larry talks with Pastor Tom Parrish about the future. Too many times the issues set the pace for how we feel, and we wonder how can it get much worse? Tom is a veteran pastor who knows how God can change the person even in the midst of the great peril that is in our world. Visit Tom Parrish
On Marriage with Tom Parrish
Tom Parrish has counseled hundreds of couples who struggle in their marriages. Tom takes a no-nonsense, simple approach to helping these couples … he turns the conversation back to Jesus. Hear Pastor Tom Parrish’s five simple questions he asks all couples when they come to him for marriage counseling. This is a must listen to episode! Visit Tom Parrish
What is the Rhythm of Rest? with David Diers
The Sabbath is designed by God for us to rest from our normal routine, and focus on God’s meaning for life. In this episode, my guest talks about the meaning of rest, and how rest can be a deliberate practice of enhancing your life. David Diers is a telecommunication expert and public speaker on a theme he has developed called, ‘The Rhythm of Rest,’ and he explains his five principles that will bring you a greater sense of meaning … if practiced.
Discernment of Truth with Larry Kutzler
Not everything that is spoken in the name of Christ is from Christ. I have often wondered how easy it is for a persuasive personality to twist the ideas of Scripture into spiritually sounding teachings that are lies. Remember, just a little lie is still a lie, and persuasion is not conviction. Persuasion is a distraction to what is real and is often full of bias and personal intentionally. For example, Bernie Madoff was a persuasive personality that convinced people to invest with him, only to find out he stole over 65 Billion Dollars from the clients who trusted him. Christian teachings are persuasion, and your discernment must be trained to know the difference between persuasion of men and the conviction of God. Our conclusion is to read the Word of God, and stay in fellowship with people you trust who do have a solid Biblical worldview. Listen in as I unpack the Discernment of Truth.
Rekindling the Church with Stephanie O’Brian and Kale Johnson
It is a statistical fact that more churches are closing than are opening every year. Congregations are getting older, and most churches do not have a contingency plan to keep their ministry going, once the congregation gets small enough that it cannot continue. One church in NE Minneapolis decided to be forward thinking, and decided to find a younger church to merge with, to keep their ministry legacy alive in their community. In this episode, I talk with the new pastor of this merger and find out their story of rekindling the church in their neighborhood. Visit Mill City Church
Antioch with Walt McFadden
We have been talking for several months about Urban Ministry with Pastor Walt McFadden. He has been helping us understand the changing face of the city, and how that affects how we develop ministries that meet these changes. In this episode, we look at Antioch, the first city that believers in Jesus were called Christians. We also look at how this city church was not only multicultural, it also was missional in sending out Paul and Barnabas to plant new churches. Visit Walt McFadden
The Jesus Revolution with Rabbi Ed Rothman and Chris Heeb
The Jesus Revolution started a movement of God that changed the church forever. One little-known fact is that the Messianic Movement (Jews coming to Jesus) started because of the Jesus Revolution among the Hippies in California. Jews were coming to the Lord and eventually they began Messianic Congregations to attract other Jews to Jesus. Today, there are over 300 such congregations in America. In this episode, I talk with Rabbi Ed Rothman and Chris Heeb about this Messianic Movement of God.
Repentance with Shawn Morrison
Repentance is a foundational teaching in the Christian faith. It represents the first stage of accepting God’s grace in Jesus Christ. Some think repentance only happens when we come to faith, but in reality, repentance is a lifelong discipline. Many have defined repentance as a complete 180 turn in either attitude or behavior. Repentance is going in opposite direction. In this episode, join me and Rev Shawn Morrison as we talk about how repentance enhances our lives. Visit Shawn Morrison
Ordinary People with Sam Anderson
It is said that God loves ordinary people because he made so many of us. In this episode, I talk with a man who is challenging the status quo of drug addiction. He is making a difference in Central Minnesota. Sam Anderson is the Director of the Brainerd Minnesota Adult and Teen Challenge and he is my guest. Sam is making a difference because he knows that ordinary people can do extraordinary things when God is placed first in their life. Join me and Sam Anderson as we talk about ordinary people. Visit Sam Anderson
Urban Ministry 3.0 with Walt McFadden
For some time now, Pastor Walt McFadden and I have been talking about Urban Ministry. The populations of the world are moving into urban areas, creating a need for more space with affordable housing. City planners have been building more low-rise buildings and six stories all over the city, to try to accommodate this need. These same city planners are designing our transportation needs more around alternative ways of travel, such as scooters and bicycles. How does all of this influx of more people and a changing city design affect Urban Ministry? In this episode, we continue with our conversations on this theme with Pastor Walt McFadden of Cityview Church in South Minneapolis. Visit Walt McFadden
Radio and the Gospel with Phil Kvamme
Christian radio has been an extension of the church ever since it began broadcasting in 1921. The Christian radio stations in the United States total over 1600 stations from coast to coast. This medium is an invaluable resource of encouragement, inspiration, teaching, and family friendly entertainment. In this episode, I talk with Phil Kvamme, a veteran broadcaster who has been on Christian radio for over 44 years. Phil has a lot to say about radio and the Gospel. Visit Phil Kvamme
The Seven Churches with Jay Christianson
Jesus stood among the seven churches mentioned in Revelation Chapter 2 and Chapter 3. He had ascended into heaven about 60 years earlier, and it was His first interaction with these churches. Now, these churches were getting a report card from Jesus. It was obvious that He was not happy with what He saw. Dr. Jay Christianson and I talk about these churches, with an appeal to hold fast and to listen to what the Spirit is saying to these churches. What message can we extract for us today? Visit Jay Christianson
Connected Families with Stacy Bellward
One of the ministries that I am familiar with is making a big difference in the lives of parents. Connected Families began its ministry in 2002 with Jim and Lynn Jackson who co-founded this unique and successful outreach to parents. In this episode, Stacy Bellward from Connected Families is with me. We will learn about how this ministry is helping parents navigate the murky waters of busy schedules, the culture, and the influences our children face every day in our modern life. Connected Families have many avenues to help parents, such as online training, podcasts, coaching, and counseling … all done through a Biblical lens. Listen in and enjoy Stacy’s story. Visit Connected Families
The Reality of Abortion with Liz Toedler
It was a Sunday morning, and it was an unusual poignant sermon on how evil has permeated our institutions. The pastor referred to a recent passage of a strongly-worded law providing safe abortions in our state. The pastor was not happy with what the legislature did, so he decided to end his sermon in stating that abortion is wrong. Immediately following the end of the sermon, a young lady got up and told her story about abortion. She was honest and direct about her experience, and her story is both heartbreaking and reassuring. In this episode, I talk with her as a follow up from that Sunday morning.
Honor with Shawn Morrison
Our theme in this episode is honor. What is honor? Why does it seem to be missing in our American culture? Honor is a selfless characteristic that is defined by esteeming a person or persons, or even a nation because of who they are or what they stand for. The Bible tells us we are to honor marriage because of its value, we are to honor parents because they are parents, and we are to honor God because of His sustainability in this world. Join me and Rev. Shawn Morrison for this fascinating conversation on honor. Visit Shawn Morrison
Generations with Chris Heeb and Jay Christianson
The Bible speaks about how important it is to teach and reach the next generation with God’s truth. The Old Testament speaks about how the Feasts of the Lord were celebrations where God was recognized for what He did for Israel in the past. All generations were encouraged by these commemorations, and ensured that the next generation would continue with the truth of God. In the last decade or so, the church in America has lost ground in reaching the next generation. We see the results in the riots, in the disrespect, in the murders on our streets. I believe it can be attributed to the failure of the church to reach the next generation with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In this episode, we talk about how the next generation must be challenged with the claims of the Gospel or we will eventually lose relevance in our society as an institution of truth. Visit Chris Heeb Visit Jay Christianson
Evil in Our Institutions with Walt McFadden
Everywhere I look today, people are talking about how bad our society is. It’s more than just the crime statistics; it’s how our institutions are adapting the ideas and practices of the woke crowd. More and more are caving to the pressures to be gender neutral, abortion supporting, and cancel culture oriented. These changes are not only in our corporations and government, they are also showing up in more and more churches today. I pray that Americans wake up and know their freedoms are at stake. In this episode, I talk with Pastor Walt McFadden about the darkness that is creeping into all aspects of American life. Visit Walt McFadden
See the Good with Zach Windahl
Every so often there comes a fresh new voice in the publishing world. A voice that brings clarity, honesty, and relevance to a complex world. I love when things are simple … simple ideas, simple design, simple explanation. Much of this world is so complex that many people still have their clocks on their DVD player blinking. Times are changing, they always will, but they don’t have to be confusing or complex. Author Zach Windahl clarifies a simple proposition to all of us. He asks us to ‘See the Good’ in a new book he’s published that brings a fresh new approach to living your life. Zach is my guest in this episode, and you will enjoy what he has to say. Check out Zach’s book!
Vision with Pastor Matt Frey
I love to talk with people who have great vision. Pastor Matt Frey was born Jewish and had nothing to do with Jesus until becoming a young adult. Once Matt decided that Jesus was the Messiah for the Jews, his life changed. He was headed for medical school when Jesus got ahold of his life and now he is a pastor with a vision to reach Jewish people. His vision is to plant a church that will accent on presenting Jesus as the Messiah to Jewish people. In this episode, I talk with him about his decision to follow Jesus, and about his vision to reach the Jewish community. Visit Matt Frey
Putting God First with Larry Kutzler
One of the most important messages that must be taught today in the church is the message of putting God first. Culture pressures us to put the emphasis of this world in place in our lives. That emphasis is never on God … it’s always the fulfillment of personal achievement or pleasure. This episode is about putting God first in all areas of our lives. He is at the top of every list. Listen in and be challenged!
The Spirit of Moab with Larry Kutzler
Why would God raise up a spirit like Moab in the last days? What purpose does it serve to have another evil-Influencing spirit in the world? This is why our Churches must start teaching from a foundation of discernment. Truth has been tainted by falsehood, and most of us are not aware of how it is affecting our faith and practice of Christianity. Discernment is a gift that distinguishes between what is from God and what is not. The spirit of Moab is one of influence, and if that influence is not discernable from the perspective of good and evil, it will go undetected and be absorbed into the fabric of the faithful.
Urban Ministry 2.0 with Walt McFadden
Cities have been with us since the beginning of time. In the early days, cities were where all the commerce and military strength resided. Ultimately, these cities collectively turned into states and then nations. Cities continue to grow and in the next decade 70% of the world’s population will leave in cities. How will that impact how we live? What will be the challenges we face? For the church, we already face some of these challenges, and the need to do ministry differently and more effectively will only increase. It’s been a joy discussing the urban ministry thinking, theology, and practicality of urban ministry with an urban pastor, Walt McFadden. He is my guest in this episode, and he explains how the church needs to prepare as cities change and grow. Visit Walt McFadden
Studying the Bible with Tom Parrish
How do you study the Bible? In this episode, I talk with Pastor Tom Parrish about his innovative Bible study that asks three questions. These three questions will help you to extract the meaning from the Biblical text, help you apply it to your life, and then ask, “what’s next?” Pastor Tom also looks at some of the reasons why discernment is not developed within the church today. He also addresses why so many Christians fall for the wrong spiritual emphasis today. Join us and learn how to study the Bible. Visit Tom Parrish
The Unseen Enemy with Walt McFadden
Since becoming a Christian, it has been my belief that Christianity is a spiritual force that pushes back the darkness of evil. Many in our world today do not think there is any evil … just human beings acting out their passions and desires. Yet, the Bible teaches there is a dark force here on earth … the Unseen Enemy, Satan. Satan would love you to think he doesn’t exist, that way he operates in the shadows. The Apostle Paul taught us that it is this force that we fight against and not flesh and blood, and the modern church often overlooks this. In this episode, my guest, Pastor Walt McFadden, unpacks the idea of this unseen enemy in the context of urban ministry. Visit Walt McFadden
The Holy and the Common with Larry Kutzler
Many times, in our understanding about God, we overlook some of the basic teachings of the Bible. For example, in Ancient Israel the priest’s main responsibility was to teach people about God. The teaching needed to give people God’s standards … it starts with the concept of what is Holy and what is common. The Holy has to do with God, His commandments, and His values. The common has to do with what is earthly and every day. The common could also be evil, the wicked things that we often face every day. In this episode, we look at the Holy and the common.
Perspective with Larry Kutzler
Having the right perspective is critical for understanding life. Everyone has a perspective, but having the right perspective is what is important. God’s perspective on living life is the only perspective that will matter in the end. What perspective do you have? Are you thinking about life only from your experiences and knowledge, or are you surrendered to God’s perspective?
Does God Have Preferences? with Shawn Morrison
Here’s my problem. People who believe in God may do so without the help of what the Bible says about God. The problem lies in believing in a God that may not exist but is made up in the imagination of the person believing. The Bible gives us clear teaching on the nature of God … who He is and who He is not. For example, people will say God is love, which is true, but what is left out of that statement is that God also hates. Hard to grasp, right? Yet, that is what the Bible says. Another question that is often overlooked or not addressed is, “Does God Have Preferences?” Most people would say no … God is no respecter of persons, so He is neutral on showing any kind of preference to people. Well, that’s our topic today on the podcast, “Does God Have Preferences?” My guest is Shawn Morrison, a familiar voice, and we have a challenging conversation about this theme. Visit Shawn Morrison
Unseen Influences with Walt McFadden
Too often, we focus on the wrong things when it comes to influence. We think it’s the political process that’s to blame, or other institutions, including the church as the culprits for our problems. In this episode, I talk with a pastor about the unseen influences the Apostle Paul mentions in Ephesians 6. Pastor Walt McFadden is my guest and we talk about the unseen influences in our lives. Visit Walt McFadden
Character with Larry Kutzler
Integrity is an important part of any relationship. You need integrity to foster honesty, trust, and respect. Yet, integrity is often lost when it comes to our relationships. In this episode, I talk about integrity in terms of honesty, clarity, and respect. For me, this is the definition of character, in which integrity is the cornerstone.
Structure with Larry Kutzler
Structure is important in everything. Your body has a structure that keeps it alive, the building you live in has a structure that keeps it from falling down, and the church should have a structure that creates a healthy spiritual environment that benefits both the believer and the ministry. In this episode, I open the podcast with a clip from Dr. John McArthur who sets the stage for my comments on structure. You will find this helpful and meaningful as you work to bring the best practices into your work for the Lord.
Urban Ministry with Walt McFadden
Our cities are changing. There is more density in cities due to all the new apartment complexes being built and new innovations in building multi-use centers. With more people working from home, and the move to get more people into apartment living, how does that affect ministries in the urban core? What must the church think about as cities continues to change? In this episode, I talk with Walt McFadden, an urban pastor, about Urban Ministry and he shares some insights about how the church needs to adjust to our changing cities. Visit Walt McFadden
Is Christianity Dangerous? with Chris Heeb
Is Christianity Dangerous? If you answer that question in terms of what Jesus taught, of course it is. ‘Deny yourself, pick up your cross and follow Me’ is counter cultural to what we hear in the world around us today. The world is afraid of people who live according to what Jesus taught … it is a threat to them in exposing their darkness. When you expose the darkness of sin you become public enemy number one to evil. Dangerous, you bet … truth is always dangerous. In this episode, we unpack the idea that Christianity is dangerous. Visit Chris Heeb Ministry
Appetites with Shawn Morrison
Everyone knows about appetites, we usually have them about food, but appetites can be defined by what we desire to make us happy. Americans especially like to pursue happiness, and they often try to achieve that happiness by satisfying appetites of pleasure, conquest, or pursuit. Today, Shawn Morrison from Good in the ‘Hood, joins me to talk about appetites and how appetites will never satisfy the pursuit of happiness. Visit Shawn Morrison
Men and Insecurity with Walt McFadden
I share another conversation with Pastor Walt McFadden about men and insecurity. Pastor Walt has been going through a series on his podcast called ‘Thinking Out Loud’ on men and their wounded hearts. This episode focuses on the torment of insecurity that most men face in their lives. Visit Thinking Out Loud
John 3:16 with Shawn Parks and Chris Heeb
In our previous episode, we talked with Randy Zembel about John 3:16, and how to use this Verse as a witnessing tool to help people understand God’s love for us. In this episode, we are joined by Randy’s colleague, Shawn Parks, who furthers this conversion. Shawn shares some stories about how effective it is to use this Verse in bringing people to Christ. Once again, my co-host for this podcast is Chris Heeb.
John 3:16 with Randy Zembel and Chris Heeb
John 3:16 is by far the most familiar verse in the Bible, and most people have heard of it. However, in this episode we talk with Randy Zembel who will tell us how to use this Verse in a way to tell people how to know they have eternal life with Jesus. You will find our conversation insightful, and my co-host for this podcast is the familiar voice of Chris Heeb.
Connected Families with Jim Jackson
In all of my radio/podcast career I haven’t found a more engaging person as Jim Jackson. He, and his wife Lynn, co-founded a ministry known as ‘Connected Families’ where they help parents deal with parenting issues. In this episode, I talk with Jim about one of the major aspects of their ministry which asks the question, “What’s going on in you.?” This self-awareness technique is a fundamental question that needs to be asked when conflict or misunderstanding is being experienced. Before we can get to the root of conflict issues, we need to examine our hearts before going into battle with another adult or child. Jim explains how it works in parenting, but it can be applied to leaders everywhere as they lead people. Visit Connected Families
The Soul of America with Shawn Morrison
With the midterm elections coming up at the end of the year, it is important for Christians to vote. Christians have one of the largest voting blocks in America. Christians need realize they have to exercise their right to vote. Many believers do not think it is important whether they vote or not since God will have His way no matter what. Ultimately, God will have His way, but our job is to protect the right in America for Christians to preach the Gospel. We have seen our religious rights slowly erode, and often it’s because we are asleep in the church. This episode is about the importance of voting to protect our religious rights in America. Visit Shawn Morrison
I Never Knew You with the Truth Barista
One of my day jobs includes producing podcasts for other ministries. One of my long-standing clients is Dr. Jay Christianson who is the imaginary Truth Barista. The Truth Barista is a podcast that deals with the truth of the Gospel as it relates to modern life. It is staged in an imaginary coffeehouse where the Truth Barista and the dishwasher by the name of Larry get into Bible discussions that are relevant to everyday living. So, I decided to share this Truth Barista podcast with you in this episode, hoping you will become a fan of The Truth Barista. Visit The Truth Barista
Toxic Masculinity with Walt McFadden
It’s no secret that men are struggling today to find their role and their place in society. Even men who have a good job and quality of life wonder what kind of role do I now play in society. Men have been tagged with all kinds of terms, one of which has stuck more than others and that is, “Toxic Masculinity.” There is some truth to men who do not follow God, or live by how He designed men to live … this can and will become toxic because it becomes a self-centered life. In this episode, I talk with Pastor Walt McFadden about men and what the Bible says on how men are to relate to females in their lives. Visit Walt McFadden
Our Freedom is Eroding with Glenn Beck
Everyone knows our world is out of control. We hear commentaries about it every day, especially from conservative radio, that our government is going in the wrong direction. Glenn Beck from The Blaze Radio had a broadcast recently where he talked about a speech delivered by a Holocaust survivor who equated what she experienced in Germany in WW II to what she is seeing in America today. The recent raid on a former President’s home was a wakeup call to Americans about the erosion of their personal liberties and freedoms. In this episode, I play a segment of Glen’s radio show and make commentary based on what is heard. You will find this insightful.
The Wounds of Men with Walt McFadden
Periodically, I join my friend, Pastor Walt McFadden, on the theme of ‘the wounds in a man’s life.’ Pastor Walt has been teaching and discipling young men in his church trying to get the heart of what is hurting men today. What he has discovered is that men have wounds in their hearts from their fathers, from culture, and from relationships that have injured them in some way. In this episode, we talk about some of those wounds and how bring those wounds before Jesus for healing. Visit Walt McFadden
Spiritual Narcissism with Larry Kutzler
In this episode, Larry deals with Spiritual Narcissism, a condition that is rampant among Christian leaders who are leading Churches and ministries. As you can guess, most narcissistic leaders are gifted, and Larry explains to us that it takes discernment to figure out if the leader is a servant of God or a narcissist in disguise.
The Cult of Western Christianity with Chris Heeb
I’m sure this episode will stir up some controversary. Why? Because, for some time, I have thought that the western church has some serious flaws in terms of practice and theology. Now, it is true, no church will be perfect … that is not what I am addressing in this podcast. What I want to do is to create some self-awareness that our structures or systems in the church could be the reason we are seeing more moral failure in the church. The open testimony of a young girl who tells how she was spiritually abused at the hands of family and leaders of her church. The abuse was all about control. When I first listened to her, I thought she was a disgruntled person who had an ax to grind, but after listening to her several times, I realized that I had experienced some of the same conditions in my life. I hope this podcast will make you think through what is being said in the church, and pray for God’s mercy to bring changes to needed areas of the church. I remember the message of the ‘Reformation’ that brought some needed changes to the church at that time, and I think it is needed again to return to the integrity of the Gospel. Visit Chris Heeb Ministry
Love God … Hate Evil with Shawn Morrison
Tolerance is the modern battle cry of the culture. There are no restrictions when it comes to being you. No more moral restrictions of past generations … we are now the generation of free exploration without societal restriction. Evil is at the heart of much of our freedom, and society is being primed to accept it. Psalm 97:10 speaks to us about our love for God and our hatred for evil. God cannot co-exist with evil, and there is no middle ground between the two. God wants us to abandon all aspects of evil if we want to follow Him. Today Shawn Morrison, the founder and Executive Director of Good in the ‘Hood, joins me to process this theme. Visit Good in the ‘Hood
The Coffin with Neil Saltzman
What motivates a man to build his own coffin? That’s the question I asked a man who told me that he has built his coffin for his funeral. Neil Saltzman has been a carpenter, entrepreneur, and former business owner who decided it could be a great conversation piece with a practical purpose. Neil tells his nine grandkids the story of how one day he will be in the coffin that he built. However, the story he tells is not morbid or sad … it is a reminder of how death will come to everyone, but in Jesus, our life continues into eternity with God. The coffin is just a reminder that if Jesus is our Messiah, we will be raised to live with God in eternity. In this episode, I talk with Neil about his faith and his coffin.
The Woundedness of Men with Walt McFadden
Men are struggling today. Many of them don’t know what role they play, and some have even become more effeminate in their dress and appearance just to appear more gender neutral. It seems that females are more prominent in almost every industry these days, and men are feeling more isolated than ever before. Generally, men have few friends and have a hard time relating to other men. This CitySites Podcast talks with Pastor Walt McFadden about the woundedness that many men feel today throughout society. Visit Walt McFadden
Maintaining Our Faith with Larry Kutzler
As we all know, our world has changed forever since COVID 19. We are only now discovering how this pandemic has influenced our lives forever. Other changes such as the transgender movement and the abortion legislation have all made inroads into our lives. Yet, with all these changes the one change that should never change is our faith in God. Faith has always been the target of evil, and it is a never-ending process to get us to give up on God for the pleasures of this life. In this episode, you’ll find my commentary helpful in maintaining our faith.
The Jewishness of the Gospel with Trevor Rubinstein
The Jewishness of the Gospel is often overlooked in our modern church. We seem to forget that as Gentiles we were grafted into the Olive Tree of God. The Jews had all the covenants God made with humankind, including the New Covenant. We call the New Covenant the New Testament which tells the story of Jesus, who is the New Covenant. Yet, in spite of all the evidence that the Jews who gave us the Messiah, the Jews who gave us all the Scripture that we read, and the Jews who were the first believers in Jesus after His resurrection, we still do not recognize the Jews for their contribution to our faith. Why? Well, it may be a complicated answer to that question. In this episode, my friend and Jewish believer, Trevor Rubinstein, who works with Chosen People Ministries, helps us process this theme. Visit Chosen People Ministries
Leadership Structure with David Diers
In most organizations, we focus upon leadership principles and values as we try to strengthen the core of the company or ministry. The problem with only focusing on the leadership is that we forget about the other half of the equation, and that is structure. No leader can properly lead without the expectations and the accountability of structure. In recent years, we have seen many outstanding leaders fail in leading because there was little to no structure to support their gift of leadership. Structure also helps to protect the integrity of the organization by keeping the talent of the leaders in check to the character of the organization based upon the principles of the structure. In this episode, my guest is David Diers who is an Executive with a telecommunications company in Las Vegas. David talks about the need to look at structure to help leaders fulfill their role in leading people.
The Immorality of Abortion with Brian Walker
For me, abortion for me is a moral judgment. This issue must be a moral one because we are talking about taking a life. In this episode, my guest is Brian Walker who has been a long-time pro-life advocate. Brian and I have a frank discussion about today’s climate in American on the topic of abortion. As Brian points out, science is our friend on this one because it does identify a pregnancy as a human being. I find it amazing when we talk about moral human tragedies like the Holocaust or the recent killing of 19 children and 2 adults at a Texas elementary school, we know that is morally wrong, but the same application is never placed on abortion. Brian is the Program Director of Pro-Life Action ministries in St Paul Minnesota. Brian, along with his wife, Denise, have been active doing side-walk counseling at Planned Parenthood locations, teaching, and helping the church to become active in pushing back the demands of the abortion advocates. Brian and Denise started a ministry called ‘Rich in Mercy’ which is a post abortive and miscarriage counseling service. Visit Rich in Mercy
Beware of Christians with Thom Berkowitz
In this episode, my guest is a Jewish man who believes in Jesus. Following his father’s unexpectant death, he found himself without answers to life and was mad at God for taking his dad. Being raised as a secular Jew, Thom did not care about religion and he had no interest in God. When his wife started to attend a Bible study, he decided he would find out what she was studying. In the process of reading about Jesus, he fell in love with Him and gave his life to following Him as His Messiah. Thom talks about his love for Jesus, and how being Jewish is not a stumbling block to believing in Him.
One Dimensional God with Shawn Morrison
When I travel and attend churches in various cities or I watch church services online, I find a dangerous precedent being set by the church. It seems there is a one-sided God being presented that makes God into just a fraction of how He is described in the Bible. I won’t say what is said about God is wrong from the pulpits of the church I watch or visit, it just seems there are many themes about God that are being left out. In other words, we are getting a cliff notes version of God, and some important characteristics of God are being missed. In this episode, we talk about the one-sided God that we hear about in church today, and my good friend Pastor Shawn Morrison joins me for this conversation. Visit Shawn Morrison
The Community of Christ with Tom Parrish
Community is a term that is used to identify a group of people who live in a neighborhood together or come together for some cause or purpose. It is also a term used to identify a church. For me, the term goes beyond just a local church … it means the community of Christ which is everyone who believes in Jesus as Lord and Savior. The Community of Christ is belonging to Jesus. In this episode, I talk with a veteran pastor who helps unpack that term for us. Visit Tom Parrish
Faith Crisis with Jeremiah Rice
What happens when faith goes into crisis? In the church, this happens more often than we want to admit. Sometimes, crisis is brought about by the experiences we encounter with fellow believers. I know, first-hand, that my most difficult times in ministry came because of the behavior of people who had an agenda, and I was in their way. Pastors can tell you horror stories of how badly they have been treated by church leaders. In this episode, I talk with a young pastor who tells you his story about his crisis and how God brought about a new chapter in his life.
Integrity with David Diers
This episode with David Diers focusses on Integrity. Integrity, as John Maxwell says, is the foundation of leadership. All other aspects of leadership follow Integrity. David Diers is an executive with a large telecommunications company in the Southwest and has developed his business and home life around Integrity. David and Larry process this word, Integrity, through David's experience in the marketplace.
Cancel Culture and the Church with Walt McFadden
The cancel culture has been one of those evils that goes after people with a vengeance. It’s a self-righteous act of people who think they have a right to destroy other people by calling for a boycott of who they are or what they do. This same spirit has been around for some time in the church, and in some ways has intensified in our culture today. In this episode, Pastor Walt McFadden from Cityview Church in Minneapolis, is my guest. Join us as we talk about this problem creeping into the church. Visit Walt McFadden
The Bible Study with Zach Windahl
We all know it’s hard to get young people to read the Bible. Zach Windahl knew this, so he designed one of the fastest growing studies for young people in both body and mind. It’s simply called ‘The Bible Study.’ Zach joins me in this episode to tell his story of how God brought this project about, and the outstanding success it has been. Visit Zach Windahl
Traditions with Chris Heeb
Traditions can be wonderful and meaningful observances, yet some traditions may not follow the Biblical narrative. For example, take Easter, some of the traditions we follow about this holiday can be traced back to pagan origins. Rabbits and eggs can all distract us from the real meaning of Christ’s resurrection from the dead. In this episode, Chris Heeb joins me to look back in time to examine some of the origins of the Easter celebration. Visit Chris Heeb Ministry
What is Preached? with Jay Christianson
There has always been a tension between what is preached in church and what is not. As any church that grows in size and in organization, there comes a financial burden to be met by the demands of the ministry. It is those demands that can dictate how prophetic the ministerial staff can become before it might affect the bottom line of that church. I know this might sound like sacrilege, but it is the truth. As a pastor, I was told not to preach on issues that drive people away. I was told just to keep to the simple Gospel … and that’s it. No hot topics, no divisive themes where people disagree … this way we can keep peace, and keep them writing the checks. That may sound cynical, but it is true. In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Jay Christianson of HighBeam Ministry, and we unpack what the whole Gospel should look like and sound like. Visit HighBeam Ministry
Satan’s Evil with Shawn Morrison
Today, there is a tendency to make Christianity a cognitive religion of having your best life now, complete with tips and ideas on how to make it so. Christianity is not a religion of education, knowledge, or otherwise … it is a supernatural event where God sent His Son to rescue the world from sin. That’s right … Christianity is a rescue mission by God. During His great rescue effort, He encounters a tumultuous push back by a fallen angel named Satan. In our world of making Christianity play nice with soft and chewable bites of truth, we have overlooked the real battles in life with Satan and his kingdom on earth. We might give Satan a mention from time to time, but he is never blamed for the evil that is in the world. So, I asked Pastor Shawn Morrison to come in and talk about evil, Satan, and our response. Visit Shawn Morrison at Good in the ‘Hood
The Reel Hope Project with Kaycee Stanley
Once in a while, I am privileged to interview unique ministries that are making a difference in the lives of kids. In this episode, my guest is Kaycee Stanley, the Executive Director of The Reel Hope Project . We talk about how this organization is helping kids get adopted by producing a video bio on their lives. Kaycee and her husband started The Reel Hope Project in 2016 with one mission … a forever family for every child. Their vision is to mobilize the faith community to bring foster kids into forever families. They strive to be a bridge between church and state, partnering on both sides to see an end to kids waiting for families. They work to equip social workers with an invaluable tool to share their kids’ stories, and empower families to meet these kids. You will love her story. Visit The Reel Hope Project
Habits with Nathan Unruh
I love to watch people and see how they interact, how they treat others, and what kind of person they display in public. Most of the time, you can observe someone and know what kind of habits they have simply by watching their behavior. In this episode, I talk with a successful businessman, chiropractor, speaker, and family man, Dr. Nathan Unruh, about the habits he has put into place that guide him to living a successful life. His answers will surprise you. Visit Nathan Unruh
Transformational Discipleship with Shawn Morrison
One of my personal interests is to study the Bible to find the key Verses or thoughts where God lays out how our lives should be lived. One of the key changes in preaching in the American church over the last decade or so has been an appeal for more of a knowledge base ministry than God. Now, at first that doesn’t sound bad, but if knowledge only puffs us up and doesn’t bring about a transformation in our lives, perhaps we are on the wrong protectory in the church. In this episode, I have a conversation with Shawn Morrison about “Transformational Discipleship” where we see not only a knowledge base in our relationship with God, but we also see a supernatural return to our faith.
Discipleship with Walt McFadden
In this episode, Pastor Walt McFadden is Larry’s guest. He is the Senior Pastor at Cityview Church in South Minneapolis. His emphasis as a pastor is on discipleship and why the church has been slowly deteriorating in the West. His bottom line to his ministry is summed up with one phrase, “All the problems in the church are directly related to discipleship.” Listen in as Pastor Walt unpacks the meaning of discipleship.
Greek vs Hebraic with Jay Christianson
Larry’s guest in this episode is Dr. Jay Christianson who unpacks the Greek and Hebraic interpretation of Scripture. The teachings of Jesus were based upon many Hebraic idioms common in His day. The audience of Jesus knew exactly what He referred to as He taught, yet through Greek translations some of those idioms were misunderstood. Reading these idioms through the lens of Greek of translation can take on different meanings than their original intent. Dr. Christianson shares how this can affect the meaning of some Scriptures. Visit Jay Christianson at HighBeam Ministry
Only Two Questions Matter with Tom Parrish
Larry likes to bring ideas down to a level of simple clarification. Ideas can get so complex, and religious ideas can often get complicated. In this episode, Larry talks with Pastor Tom Parrish about an article he posted on his blog titled, 'Only Two Questions Matter.' Tom is a pastor, author, sought after speaker, and a respected Christian blogger. Tom is the kind of guy you go to when you need leadership direction. Join Larry and Tom as they talk about the only two questions that matter. Visit Tom Parrish
The Unseen Enemy with Chris Heeb
There are many enemies in America today, and some of them are seen as good causes. Most of these contemporary causes have an unseen base to them that many people do not see. This enemy has been around since the beginning of time, and is most successful when he does not get exposed. This unseen enemy has one secret that is never talked about … it is the fact that this enemy has been defeated. The only reason this enemy is effective is because he is allowed to lie and be believed. Join Larry and Chris Heeb in this episode as they warn about the unseen enemy. Visit Chris Heeb Ministry
Women in Leadership with Mina Carlson
Mina Carlson is a Christian leader whose leadership skills were developed as a founder of a tech company. Her passion for the Gospel ended up in Christian ministry where she ministers to women about their leadership skills and calling. Mina is a life coach, an advisor to ministry leaders, and the founder of Wilhelmina Ministries. In this episode, Mina is Larry’s guest, and they talk about the role of women in developing leaders for the Cause of Christ. Visit Wilhelmina Ministries
Reset with Neal Rich and Shawn Morrison
It seems we live in an era of resets … everything around us is changing. Sometimes these resets help us to make changes that are necessary. Some have called these changes ‘course corrections’ … needed changes in the direction we are heading. In this episode, Larry talks with two pastors about the resets and course corrections that are happening in the church today. Pastors Neal Rich and Shawn Morrison are Larry’s guests. Pastor Neal is the Senior Pastor of Cedar Valley Church in Bloomington, Minnesota and Shawn Morrison is the Executive Director of Good in the ‘Hood in the Twin Cities. Visit Cedar Valley Church Visit Good in the ‘Hood
Manhood with Walt McFadden
This episode discusses the assault on men that our culture has perpetrated. There are many boys who grow up in fatherless homes and struggle with the understanding of manhood. Most marriages end in divorce because men are cheating on their wives or do not take responsibility as a leader in the home. Pastor Walt McFadden discusses what men are facing today, and how men can escape the trap of defining manhood by standards that are not Godly.
The Dark Side of Ministry Part 5 with Walt McFadden
Over the past five weeks, I’ve been doing a podcast series on the theme of ‘The Dark Side of Ministry.’ These five podcasts look at stories and conditions within ministry that brings a dark side to the message of the Gospel. In many cases, this dark side is idol worship because it places gifting, ministry models, and success above the message of Jesus. I realize there can be a fine line when talking about this, but there are certain behaviors and beliefs that trap us into thinking our ministries are more important than they are. In this episode, I talk with Pastor Walt McFadden about some of his experiences of dealing with the dark side of ministry.
The Dark Side of Ministry Part 4 with Shawn Morrison
This is the fourth in our series on ‘The Dark Side of Ministry.’ Reverend Shawn Morrison joins me as we talk about how good intentions can be turned into a dark side of ministry. I don’t think anyone who goes into the ministry does so with the intention of drifting away from Christ and preach another Gospel, but it does happen. In fact, it happens more than we want to admit. Shawn and I talk about what can happen to a person that can draw them into this dark side.
The Dark Side of Ministry Part 3 with Dr. Jay Christianson
I have now completed the third in the series, “The Dark Side of Ministry.” This series looks into how the structure of a church can be a hinderance to the true Gospel. We look at how the giftedness of the preacher can influence people in a way that may not be Biblical. We also look into the integrity issues that ministries often violate because of personal or corporate gain. Ministries and churches are run by people and sometimes people can get in the way of what God wants to do. Darkness will constantly tempt us to abandon God’s Word for personal and private gain. My guest is this episode is Dr. Jay Christianson from HighBeam Ministry. Visit HighBeam Ministry
The Dark Side of Ministry Part 2 with David McKnight
In this second episode of our series on The Dark Side of Ministry, David McKnight comes back into the studio to talk about structure. David shares how structure in the church can hinder growth and be an obstacle to real worship and real ministry. David tells us that structure can be seen as tradition, however, in some cases, the structure is actually worshiped instead of God. You will find our conversation insightful. Listen in to this penetrating episode. Visit David McKnight
The Dark Side of Ministry Part 1 with David McKnight
Is there a dark side to ministry? Most of us have all seen clergy fail in recent years. It’s been in all denominations … from the priests in the Catholic Church to the super pastors in Evangelicalism. So, I decided to do a series on ‘The Dark Side of Ministry.’ This series will be an ongoing exposé on the areas we need to be mindful of in our churches and with the leaders who lead us. In this first episode, I speak with David McKnight, a counselor and a church consultant, about the definition of the dark side of ministry. Visit David McKnight
A Different Gospel with Tom Parrish
In this episode, my guest is Tom Parrish, a seasoned pastor, author, and Bible commentator. Tom tells us that today we have different Gospels being preached. False teachers are preaching the Jesus of their imagination. They are creating a Jesus that doesn’t exist. You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of Gospel than the one you believed. Deceit is part of these false teachers, in that they also teach their warped version of Jesus, the Spirit, and the Gospel. Visit Pastor Tom Parrish
Sexual Sin with Larry Kutzler
There is such a darkness over sexual issues today. Pedophilia and transgenderism are just a few of the sexual issues our society is slowly accepting. People do not find anything immoral in anything that is sexually practiced as long as there is content by those involved. God has a lot to say about sexually immoral people. Listen in as Larry talks about the taboo subject of sexual sin in this episode.
Marketplace Ministry with Bob Willbanks
In the past, the marketplace has not been thought of as a place for Gospel influence, but with more leadership gurus using principles from Scripture as lead values for their companies, the idea of a Marketplace Ministry is just a short step away. Some say the marketplace is the new missionary frontier, and CEOs and business owners are able to influence more people in a week than any pastor. It is an important field to consider when thinking about earning a living and doing it as an Influencing factor for His Kingdom. Bob Willbanks, founder of Ambassadors for Business, joins Larry in this episode, and they share how to connect your faith values with your work. Visit Ambassadors for Business
Culture of Death with Chris Heeb
We are using death as a means to solve our problems. Abortion is only one of the areas we are using death as a solution. There are those who have forecasted that we will end the lives of older people just because they are no longer productive in our society. In this episode, my guest is Chris Heeb, and we talk about the culture of death in our society.
Did Jesus Abolish the Law? with The Truth Barista
I have been presenting one of our CitySites Podcast Network clients as our podcast for the last three weeks. Today, I share the next installment of Jesus and the Law, a podcast from the Truth Barista. I hope you have enjoyed the imaginary cafe with the Truth Barista as he teaches on our theme of Jesus and the Law. This episode is entitled ‘Did Jesus Abolish the Law?’ Listen in as the Truth Barista helps us understand more about Jesus and the Law. Visit The Truth Barista
Torah Laws with The Truth Barista
Dr. Jay Christianson, creator of the podcast ‘The Truth Barista’ is once again my podcast guest. Jay has been a podcaster for many years and has created a creative way to tell the truth of the Gospel by developing this innovative podcast. I have decided to play a series that he did recently as a way to introduce you to his ministry. He is a part of the CitySites Podcast Network Family. This episode is entitled ‘Torah Laws’ and the Truth Barista explains how and why Christians should not be afraid of the Torah Laws. Visit The Truth Barista
Jesus and the Law with The Truth Barista
For the next several weeks I’ll be featuring one of my clients from the CitySites Podcast Network. My featured guest will be Dr. Jay Christianson who is the podcaster and his program is called The Truth Barista. Jay has created an imaginary coffeehouse where he, the Truth Barista, talks with his coffeehouse employee, Amazing Larry, about the Bible and issues of the day. The Truth Barista and Amazing Larry’s exchange on the podcasts is fun banter with truth shared. This episode is entitled ‘Jesus and the Law’ and you’ll find it extremely surprising on how Jesus and the Law relate. Visit The Truth Barista
Females in Church Leadership with Jamie Morrison and Pam Braman
Over the years, female Leaders in the church have tried to figure out just how they feel about themselves as leaders. Do female leaders feel pressure to act more masculine than feminine as they lead? Do female leaders get the respect equal to a male leader? What do people expect from a female leader? In this episode, Larry talks about the perspective of women as it relates to leadership in the Body of Christ. Some churches will not permit a woman to be a pastor or to hold a teaching position, as the doctrine of these churches restricts senior leadership to men only. With Larry are two female pastors who have been in leadership for decades, and they give us their perspective on church life for a female as a leader in the church.
Living an Intentional Life with Dr. Nathan Unruh
The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor. ~Vince Lombardi
Dr. Nathan Unruh is a living example of Coach Lombardi’s quote. In this episode, he discusses Living an intentional life and creating an environment to become a better leader and a better person. Dr. Unruh is a successful chiropractor, businessman, and author whose interest in excellence has driven him to becoming one of the best thought leaders in his profession. He has created several businesses where he trains professionals how to become more effective in leading people through his training resources. Visit Nathan Unruh
Safety vs Change with Larry Kutzler
It is easy to stay safe, we are so safe in fact, that we forget that Christianity has never been a safe practice. Looking at history, most of the cultures Christianity was flourishing in were not kind to believers. Change doesn’t often happen when everything is safe … why make any changes? Isn’t safety what we want? Well, that would depend if safety is getting done what God wants done. Listen in as Larry talks about safety vs change in this episode.
The Bottom Line with Larry Kutzler
The bottom line is an expression we often use to illustrate the end of a matter. The bottom line in business is the amount of profit or loss the company has experienced. In the church, the bottom line should be about how effective have we been in presenting the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Join Larry in this episode as he talks about ‘the bottom line’ for Christians and the church.
Immigrants and the Church with John Mayer
John Mayer, the Executive Director of the Christian ministry, City Vision, has been doing research for more than 20 years on the immigrant populations in our urban communities. His research has been invaluable for those who plant churches among the ethnic immigrant populations. In this episode, John helps us understand who is in our neighborhoods, who is coming to our neighborhoods, and what this tells us about America’s future. John discusses that we have an unreached people group right in our local neighborhoods, and the ramifications to the church if it ignores the presence of the immigrant population. Visit City Vision
Sabbath with Pastor Jay Christianson
Why is Sabbath an important observation for believers in God? Why was Sabbath in the Ten Commandments? In this episode, Larry talks with Pastor Jay Christianson, Founder of HighBeam Ministry, on the topic of Sabbath. Listen in as they unpack the meaning of this practice in our faith journey. Visit HighBeam Ministry
Is the Gospel Intense? with Larry Kutzler
The culture is changing and is becoming more and more against Christian values. There are those who say that if our Christian values don’t comply and become supportive of the cultural mandates, we will be seen as combatants in our society. The pressure will increase until we give in … we have seen that reality happen with the homosexual revolution. Christians now are slowly accepting the homosexual lifestyle as acceptable to God. What a lie! What a crime against the truth of God’s Word! We are called to love everyone, to forgive everyone, and to tell the truth to everyone. Loving and forgiving is what we do fairly well in the church, but we are lacking in telling the truth. Scripture teaches us to tell the truth in love … but the mandate is clear, “tell the truth.” In this episode, we tell the truth.
Gender Identity with Luca Jo Groppoli and Chris Heeb
Luca Jo Groppoli is a woman who for many years of her life lived a transgender lifestyle as a man. Luca Jo was abused as a young girl, and thought that by becoming a boy it would spare her, but it actually did the opposite. Luca Jo was told at the age of 17 that she needed to have a sex change. Luca Jo tells us how one pastor and one church loved her through this journey, and the years of tumultuous living left scars on her life but love sought her out and marked her with joy and peace. Luca Jo’s mission is to minister to those struggling with their sexual and gender identity, while standing for truth and the healing power of the Gospel. Luca Jo speaks candidly and shares her journey with us, the pain in her life, and being healed by the power of Jesus in this fascinating and spell-binding episode.
The Unseen Enemy with Chris Heeb
When Jesus sent His disciples out on their own to minister to people, He told them to do some extremely unusual things. He told them to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, and cast out demons. That was their assignment. Can you imagine what they felt as they went out for the first time with this assignment? It was a true test of faith. In this episode, I talk with Chris Heeb about the unseen enemy … the enemy that affects everything in our lives but is often ignored most by those of us who practice faith.
Answering Tough Question with Shawn Morrison
Tough questions are always hard to field with good responses because there are so many answers that could be applied, but when we are truth followers there really is only one response. That response, of course, belongs to the Lord. In this episode, I talk with Reverend Shawn Morrison about some tough questions being asked today.
Pushing Back the Darkness with Larry Kutzler
There is a fear about confronting the social issues of our day. I am referring to the issues that take on moral issues that are in opposition to the Scriptures. So many of us would rather be quiet than to fight with someone. I understand that, yet, at the same time if we never push back on the issues that affect us all, those issues slowly become acceptable. In this episode, we are pushing back.
The Intensity of the Gospel with Larry Kutzler
The Gospel isn’t about church services with hymns, prayers, and sermons. We use these to make a case for the Gospel, and is the practice of most Christians around the world. There is nothing wrong in this practice, with one exception … this is not the Gospel. The Gospel of Jesus Christ demands its followers to be completely committed to the message of the Cross. Nothing is more important than what Jesus did for us, and there is no greater reward than what we are promised as a result of the Cross. In this episode, Larry will challenge you to think again about your own commitment to Jesus and how much of His message controls your life.
Accountability with Pastor Ross Tenneson
In recent years, we have seen many national Christian leaders fail, and this raises the question about accountability. Most ministries do not have any systems to help Christian leaders from failing morally, and yet it is critical to maintain some kind of accountability for those who lead the church. In this episode, Larry talks with Pastor Ross Tenneson about the church he serves and how they handle this issue among their leadership.
Slothfulness with Riley Carpenter
Lately, I've been doing some interviews with young pastors in training. In this episode, I have another one of these future leaders in the church. Riley Carpenter is in seminary now, training to be a pastor. We talk about one of the seven deadly sins … slothfulness. I think you will enjoy Riley’s history lesson, and a personal application on this theme.
The Journey with Larry Kutzler
The Apostle Paul was a very spiritual man. He learned much of his insight through the suffering of bringing the Gospel to a hostile world. Once again, we live in a post-Christian world where many of the prominent ideas of our day are not based upon a Judeo-Christian foundation. Join Larry in this episode, as he talks about the journey of living a Christian life in a post-Christian era.
Cancel Culture with Walt McFadden
In the church, we are often not forgiving people, we are often not accepting people, and we have a problem in our culture ... cancel culture. So, what's cancel culture? It's somewhat a boycott of someone who has done something other people find objectionable. Cancel culture is rooted in Social Media, and its goal is to destroy those who it finds objectionable. It can be someone just like you and me. Social Media cancels people who it thinks is objectionable ... so does the church. The Apostle Paul offers us grace to extend to others, rather than the cancel culture. People don't understand what grace really is. Why? Grace is easier said than done ... you have to practice what you preach.
Defy the Darkness with Larry Kutzler
It becomes easy for most of us to curse the darkness because it is so egregious. Yet, many times that is all we do … we complain about it. Darkness always behaves like its creator, Satan, and it always hides from the truth. Darkness loves to agitate, deceive, and more and more people refuse to push back because of the personal high cost of offending the cancel culture. In this episode, Larry talks about pushing back and defying the darkness.
Heart of the Father with Dr. David Nichols
My guest has been literally around the world bringing the healing message of Jesus Christ. Dr. David Nichols has been a college professor, author, and conference speaker. In 2000, he established a ministry of healing known as the Heart of the Father Ministries. David and Sherry Nichols have preached the Gospel to over one million people face-to-face with over 350,000 responding to receive Jesus as their Savior. Twice they have ministered to over 100,000 people at one place at one time in South India. They are promoting the healing Gospel of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth! In this episode, Dr. David Nichols shares about healing and his healing ministry.
The Tension of the Gospel with Larry Kutzler
The Gospel message is easy to accept, and the benefits are eternal. Yet the Gospel has an intensity to it that requires a heart that is prone to discipleship. Discipleship is a lifestyle that focuses on following the dictates of Scripture. We love, we forgive, we worship God. We give Him first place in all things, and that requires we make the Word of God a priority in our lives. Listen in to this episode, as Larry gives a commentary on the tension that is part of the Gospel message.
Next Generation Preachers with Kenneth Granados
What will the preachers be like in the next generation? Will they uphold the principles of faith of the previous generations? Have we mentored our youth in our congregations to reflect the Gospel? Have we developed the kind of disciples that will change the world for God? Well, I decided to ask a young man whose career path is to be a pastor in the near future. Kenneth Granados will soon graduate from the Christian University he has been attending with his goal of preparing for the ministry. In this episode, I talk with Kenneth about his generation, and his plans for future ministry.
Two Pastors and a Virus with Walt McFadden and Tom Parrish
COVID-19 has affected everyone. The church was not been able to meet with the quarantine in effect, and most churches complied with the executive orders by their state governors to stay home. Are the fears justified? Most would say yes, but many pastors and conservative leaders have their questions. In this episode, Larry talks with two pastors about the church and the spiritual messages they see coming out from the quarantine time out.