Who is God?

Mike was raised in a loosely religious family, first encountering Christ at a Bible Camp. While he chose to be baptized as a teenager, his faith remained surface level, seeing it more as a ticket to heaven than a true relationship. It wasn’t until the tragic events of 9/11 that he began to take these questions of faith seriously. Shortly after, a former teammate reconnected with him and offered mentorship, guiding him through the Gospel of John and helping him grasp his faith's true meaning. This transformative experience led Mike and his wife to commit to their lives to Christ together, strengthening their faith and marriage.Years later, Mike and his wife were forced to deal with the tragic loss of their teenage son, Cole, in an accident. While grappling with profound grief, they received unexpected comfort through a woman who shared a spiritually vivid dream she had had about their son that brought them peace and strengthened their commitment to live out their faith and share God’s love with others."He’s my savior. He's my friend. He's my counselor. He's my comforter. He's my God, you know, he is my hope. Without him, I look around and I just think, man, if I did not have the Lord to lean on right now and, and seek advice and wisdom and, and comfort from in this crazy world… I just can't imagine what this life would be like right now. I mean, this would be a terrible place to live, wouldn’t it?”

Mark grew up in a home devoid of love. Despite attending a Seventh-day Adventist school, the spiritual teachings of his childhood felt distant and irrelevant compared to the harshness of his home life. His father was emotionally and physically abusive, referring to Mark and his brother as "slaves" and beating them for minor infractions if his rules were not kept. One particularly traumatic incident involved Mark being severely beaten for eating “too much deli meat,” further instilling a sense of worthlessness that permeated much of his early life. This sense of feeling worthless defined Mark for much of his childhood, resulting in apathy and failing grades in school, despite the reprieve school and church had been from the abuse of home. Mark even attempted to take his own life, though the grace of God saved him. It wouldn’t be until Mark was 23 when his best friend, a recent Christian convert, told Mark that he valued him and wanted him to study the Bible together. Mark eagerly agreed and learned that God was real and actively pursuing a relationship with him, something he had never experienced before.Today, Mark works as a site director for Youth for Christ, mentoring middle school students. His past experiences allow him to connect deeply with young people who are struggling, especially those contemplating suicide.“Who is God to you?”“The friend who chose me first.”You can check out the amazing work Mark and others are doing over at Youth for Christ.

Graham Stanford grew up in Yorkshire, England. He did not grow up in a churched environment, or have any longing to pursue faith or church; his only love was soccer. Yet, despite being involved in soccer, he desired to seek and find truth in his life. While attending a youth club, a friend introduced him to Christ, leading him to embrace faith after learning about Jesus’ message: "I am the way, the truth, and the life."With an emphasis the “greatest life" he found in the fulfilling promise and direction of Christ, Stanford founded “Greatest Life Ministries” to spread this message to others. The ministry revolves around sharing the gospel and empowering individuals to live this greatest life through Christ. Graham has been sharing this message for over 60 years, traveling and speaking, especially to young people. Join the Greatest Life Ministries team as they discuss the amazing work God is doing through them, some of their major faith inspirations, and living out a practical Christian life. Check out Greatest Life Ministries

Steve grew up in a coastal lake district community in Northeast England, the son of a miner and member of a large family. He experienced a significant transformation when he encountered Christianity during his college years. Feeling isolated after a delayed start to his college experience due to a heart condition, Steve met Malcolm, a Christian whose friendship and acceptance lit a spark in Steve to explore his faith. Throughout those college years, Steve found Christ’s presence becoming more real in his life, shifting his perception of God from distant and powerless to loving and present, and would even lead him to pursue ministry as a vocation.Steve met Gloria at a Bible study group he led in a local Anglican church after finishing Cape Ray Bible School. They grew to be close friends before eventually getting married. Their marriage and family were rooted in their faith, with Gloria stepping away from her job as a midwife to assist in Steve’s ministry.After a series of health complications, Gloria was diagnosed with and eventually lost her life to cancer. Despite the immense grief, Steve found strength in God, feeling closest to Him during this painful time. Steve’s experiences of personal pain, financial struggles, and loss only deepened his reliance on the lavish grace of God, which he now shares with others through his writing and testimony.

Rick grew up in a traditional Christian family in Norfolk, Nebraska. He grew up attending church regularly, learning Bible stories, and eagerly learning about God. While he believed, and his faith was sincere, it wasn’t until later that his relationship with God went from traditional to personal. He attended college in Kansas, where he became involved in campus ministries and, soon after graduating, went on a life-changing mission trip to Egypt. This experience shifted his perspective, allowing him to see a more global, less “Americanized” view of Christianity in a part of the world where such beliefs were persecuted. It was here where his faith started to evolve as he began to understand God’s guidance and that knowing about God was not the same as truly knowing Him.After returning to the U.S., Rick worked in the agriculture industry, moving between states like Minnesota and Wisconsin before eventually returning to Nebraska and settling down with his wife, Jackie, after meeting at a church singles group. As an adult, Rick understood Jesus not only as his Savior but as his Lord, and how his faith evolved from something inherited and practiced out of routine to something deeply personal and transformative. This deeper connection with God, built on trust and reliance, allowed him to see God's presence not only in major life events but also in the small, everyday moments.“God is very personal. As we've talked about the depth and how the personal side of God just resonates with me more than anything else. He is there in the little things. He's there in the big things, too. He has everything. But at the same time, we sometimes forget that he's there in the small, seemingly insignificant things that develop, like the conversations and who you meet.”

Lynn grew up working on a farm in rural Sutton, Nebraska. Raised by parents who made faith an everyday practice, Lynn attended a small Methodist church, prayed at every meal, and learned the value of hard work alongside his three older brothers. Lynn first felt God's presence during thunderstorms on the farm and the stillness of country nights. As Lynn grew older, his faith evolved from being a family tradition to a personal relationship with God. He learned to trust in God’s provision in profound ways, such as when he and his wife had to decide between tithing to their church or buying groceries. In an act of faith, they chose to give to the church, and shortly after, an unexpected financial blessing arrived. Lynn continued to look to God’s provision and guidance throughout his life. Throughout his life, Lynn has modeled his faith by teaching his two sons about Jesus like he had learned from his own family: through the example of a life rooted in prayer and trust. Whether it was building a clubhouse with his young son or taking them to church every Sunday, Lynn believes that children learn about God by observing their parents. Lynn continues to rely on God’s timing, provision, and love. His story is one of faith, family, and unwavering trust in God’s presence, a testament to the power of a life lived in close relationship with Christ.“God is our creator. God is our maker. God is the person we trust for everything that we have. And we really don't own anything. He has given us everything that we have. We realize that and we realize that we won't take anything with us. We'll be naked as the day we are born. When we meet him on the throne, that it will be a glorious day.”

Dennis grew up in a close-knit farming community in Nebraska, surrounded by faith in a churched environment. His family attended church, and he even went through catechism. Despite this, his faith remained intellectual and cultural, lacking a personal connection with Jesus as he wrestled with the contradictory things he learned in church and school. While attending a management seminar in Green Lake, Wisconsin, in his mid-20s, a friend asked Dennis if he had ever accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior. Dennis realized that while he knew about God, he had never made a personal commitment. In that moment, he decided to accept Jesus into his heart, which planted the subtle seeds of faith in Dennis that his wife of 5 years, Patty, noticed, even though he wasnt fully aware of the changes himself. Within a few weeks, through subtle nudges, the two would wind up at a small Evangelical Free Church early one Sunday morning, where Patty would also have a transformative encounter with Christ. Following this transformation in both their spiritual lives and relationship with one another, Dennis and Patty began to build a family with God at the center rather than themselves. Despite initially struggling with infertility, failed procedures, and miscarriages, they eventually surrendered their desire for children to God and, soon after, were blessed with six children. Dennis and Patty committed to raising their children in a Christ-centered home, creating traditions like "Dad’s Class," where Dennis spent one-on-one time nurturing the faith and character of his children. This strong spiritual foundation not only helped their family grow closer but also prepared them for one of the greatest trials of their lives—the sudden, unexpected death of their son in 2020. Though their grief was overwhelming, Dennis and Patty leaned on their deep faith, finding solace in the belief that God was with them through the pain and that they would one day be reunited with their son in Heaven.“My relationship with God is such that I can't imagine my life without. I can't imagine going through anything like the things that we've gone through in our life without having the faith and the assurance of things unseen. I think that as much as God is unseen, He's still very present.”

Mike’s story is a journey of faith and how, through struggle and pain, God was able to work through and transform his life. Despite growing up in a Greek Orthodox family, Mike had a distant relationship with faith. He referred to his connection with Jesus as a "valet" type—reaching out when in need but otherwise leaving church for Sundays. He spent 20 years working in his family's restaurant, shaping him into a man with a strong work ethic and desire to pursue the American Dream but leaving little room for spiritual development.Later in life, after his first marriage ended and raising two children, he entered a period of spiritual searching. He started attending church sporadically, feeling he needed to be there, though not committing until a random encounter with a man sitting in front of him at church asked Mike to join his wednsday night bible study. While wary, he attended and found community with the men in the group, which opened the door to explore deeper into his faith and a deeper relationship with God.Around this time, Mike was diagnosed with prostate cancer, which marked the beginning of a significant turning point in his life. The anxiety and fear of facing cancer pushed Mike to rely more on God, spending time in prayer and devotion, and finding comfort in the faith community he had been welcomed into. God had a plan for Mike that brought him to his knees and made his faith more real than ever, especially in the face of uncertainty regarding his health and future.“You know, God is my Father. He's there for me. I just need to reach out to Him in a loving way, and in a way of wanting; not just asking for things, but actually having a true relationship with God. He's my best friend. Jesus is my brother. He's my Savior. I mean, He's amazing for everything that He's done for me. And I pray about this all the time. I don't know what I'd do without Him. I wouldn't want to know life without God. He makes life better, and by just reaching out to Him and have Him be a part of your life, He makes life brighter than it was before.”

John grew up as an only child in a separated home. Although he was baptized in the Lutheran Church at an early age, his faith never progressed beyond book knowledge. In 1954, John attended Bethany High School in Minnesota for his sophomore year, taking a train to Mankato with just a trunk of clothes and supplies. This move marked the true beginning of his journey as God worked through John and those around him, leading him to meet his future wife, Karen, and igniting his passion for architectural drafting.With a restless and yearning spirit, John traveled across the country, working a wide variety of jobs, including architectural draftsman, vocational teacher, and furniture sales manager. Throughout these years, he and his wife attended churches and joined Bible studies, where John deepened his relationship with Christ. In 1992, John made a life-altering decision by resigning from his job and moving to Lincoln, where he operated his own furniture store. Two years later, he finally rededicated his life to Christ at a Promise Keepers event.As John's relationship with God deepened, he realized his increasing need for divine guidance. Shortly after his rededication, John was diagnosed with an abdominal tumor. His doctor prayed with him through the process, and through the Holy Spirit, John found peace—and he remains healthy to this day.Throughout the trials in his life, John’s favorite Bible verse became Proverbs 16:9: “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” He writes this verse each month in his planner as part of his mission statement, which has guided him for the past 15 years. The more he matured, John saw how God had moved throughout his life, even when he didn’t recognize it in the moment. He understood that God isn’t opposed to using circumstances to guide people where they need to be, even when it involves pain.For John, the focus was never on leaving a personal legacy but on reflecting God’s legacy through his life. He firmly believed that without a mission or purpose, one loses focus. His mission statement encapsulated this belief:“Be God’s servant in all I do to grow and develop others in my daily walk with Jesus, my family, friends, business and social contacts, and all I come in contact with daily. Leave a Godly legacy to Karen, my children, and great-grandchildren, and all my family. Be in God’s Word daily, daily walk with Jesus as my personal Savior, be open to His purpose and direction for my life through the Holy Spirit by placing individuals in my life that need to know Jesus as their own personal savior and help them to be in God’s word in prayer. Surrender my life to God daily by giving up my pride and selfishness by focusing daily on His word and listening to the Holy Spirit through quiet times and for His guidance, patience, and wisdom.”This is the mission John committed to living out each day, seeking to leave a legacy that reflects not himself but God’s work in his life.You can learn more about John Radway and his work through Legacy Dynamics here: About — Legacy Dynamics

Paul’s is a story of buried hurt that had to be dealt with regardless of the pain that revealing and healing would cause. His story is evidence that God wants us to be healed. God heals us in community. Healing is often painful, but always worth it. God will make something bad into something good. This is called redemption.Paul shared his story of being sexually assaulted as a young child. He was young enough that he didn’t really remember, and doubted whether his memories were true. Then as an adult married and watching his own child, these memories started flooding back. This time the memories were so vivid and clear that it was affecting Paul’s attitude in life. He found himself angry all the time. Even his wife would ask what was wrong.Paul found the courage to step into these painful memories instead of repressing and hiding them. While he initially doubted his memories, when he discovered that others in his family knew, he found out that all of his memories were true, but they hadn’t really been dealt with. He shares his journey through the pain of his childhood experiences, of being abused, pain of not being protected by family, especially those who were supposed to protect him. He also shares his journey through the fear of being rejected by his wife, family and who knows else. He carried the baggage of shame and guilt, feeling tarnished and unworthy. In his struggle and pain, Paul recognized his need for God. While Paul knew he needed Christ and knew he needed community he still had fear and pain to overcome. Through the same child that brought all this back to the surface, God used her relationship and pursuit of Christ to push him past these obstacles into a church community where he could find safety, healing and eventually even joy. Paul still had to be vulnerable. He had to open up and share his hesitations and fears in order to find victory and overcome them. Paul had to learn how to forgive in order to find peace in his heart. While these things were hard, Paul had the persistence, determination and faith in God to push through.Some of my favorite quotes are “There will always be a harvest.”“I’m on the gravy train of life with biscuit wheels.”“When Jesus hung on the cross, Jesus made the same promise to everyone.”“All my scars are going to be gone.”SexualAssaultofaChild FamilySecrets Redemption BadIntoGood ChristDiedForMe GivingForgiveness FromVictimToSurvivor ItStillHurts GodSpeaks RightWhereGodWantsMe PeaceIntheMiddleOfthePain

Eli Carpenter Part 2In Episode 1 "On the Road to Destruction", we saw how Eli’s life was a road of destruction filled with anger, addiction and crime that led to Eli’s incarceration. In this episode we’ll see how God has Eli "Under Construction" and how God is growing, maturing and healing Eli and making him the man God always intended him to be. Eli starts to share How God walked him out of addiction to Drugs, Pornography, Anger. We see how God put the pieces in place for Ely’s life to change. From men who engaged Eli while he was in prison and took him to church, to the men who engaged with him starting a bible study and connecting him to a Pure Desire class. Eli found a church where the Bible was preached and it started to make sense to him. Celebrating almost 3 years of being drug free. Eli is thankful to have broken Satan’s grip on his life. God let Eli get to the point that he was ready to surrender. At the moment he surrendered, the solution was there waiting got him. Eli says that since he has gotten around a group of men who have struggled with the same things, he’s found victory over the things that have dominated him in his life. “The things that I have struggled with all my life, they keep me on my knees man.” Eli has found that when he joins with God first, then other men in community, God provides healing. Now Eli is learning to manage not just the external things in his life, but also the things happening inside. He’s learning to understand his emotions and manage what he’s feeling. Performance Eli realizes that after having to perform for his mom, probation officers, and everyone else in his life, he was trying to perform for God. He’s tempted to believe that he has to go to meetings, he has to… he has to… because it’s expected of him. He thinks that if he doesn’t do all these things, that he’ll end up back where he was. Now he’s learning to feel content. He’s starting to experience God’s grace and mercy. While Eli has been striving to get his needs filled. He’s been striving to find contentment in the things of this world. Now he’s finding that all his needs are being met by and in Jesus. As he’s learning to give up performance, he’s finding contentment and peace in Christ.The hard part of being in a community is finding it. Eli talks about having to invite himself to parties and events. He had to reach out and be a friend in order to have friends. Eli has now found people that he can call real friends. Eli is now giving from himself to his friends rather than giving what he had stolen. His friends are giving back happily when they didn’t before. His new friends draw closer to him when Eli’s struggling rather than abandon him like they did before. Eli is learning, that Life with Christ is not easy. But its far more fulfilling than he has ever experienced or imagined.

Eli was a middle child raised by a single mother. He didn’t know his dad early on, except what his mom shared about some of the stories of fear and abuse. He was angry as a child and didn’t know why. “I don’t know where it came from, but as a young man, I had a lot of rage” He spent much of his youth in different types of treatment and detention.As a child Eli was out of control, this led to diagnosis like Bipolar, ADHA, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder… “I was conditioned/ trained to believe that if there is something wrong with me that I could just take something and fix it.” At 11 Eli smoked pot and drank alcohol for the first time. This just escalated until, in the middle of a multiple day drug bender, Eli overdosed at age 13.By age 15, Eli was selling and using drugs. A semester before he graduated High School, he dropped out. His plan was to spend the rest of his life selling and smoking dope. Two weeks later he was arrested for class 3 felony burglary. This pattern continued. Eli now believed drugs were the problem. “I believed that if I could just stop using the drugs, everything else in my life would be ok.”But Eli couldn’t and didn’t stop. Repeated interactions with authorities and the Law led Eli to being sentenced and incarcerated for 5-10 years. Even in prison, Eli found a way to get high and stay high. But that meant a lot of time in solitary confinement. It wasn’t until towards the end of Eli’s incarceration, that he finally did something he had never done before. That was when the trajectory of his life changed.Through all this story, Eli looks back and can see how God was using key people in his life to continue to work on Eli. “I used to go to any length to stay high, now I go to any lengths to stay clean.” - Eli

In the middle of the trial, remember that God has a plan for you. In Part 2 of Adam’s story, Adam is learning to surrender and let God be Sovereign. Even when he can’t see the outcome. Adam has been learning patience through the trials he’s gone through. God started to “equip” Adam daily to be a better parent as he learns to remember that his boys are an answer to prayer in the moments, knowing that God has a plan for them just like God has had a plan for Adam. So Adam is learning to be better so he can lead his boys to be prepared for the plan God has for them. One of the ways Adam is learning to equip his boys is by openly modeling his relationship with God. Early in the boys’ life, Adam talks about having a relationship with God, but not letting Him be sovereign. He enjoyed having God as a best friend, but God still let him struggle since Adam was still running his life his own way. “I wanted to get to know him (in a relational way), but I didn’t want him messing with my stuff.” Adam discusses, as the boys got older, what it was like to blur the traditional family roles. His wife was the alpha earner in the family, and her schedule led to Adam being the primary homemaker and parent. This created a lot of stress in the relationship. A good portion of the stress and friction centered around expectations, unspoken and unmet. One of the places Adam felt like he failed was when an experience in his wife’s life appears to cause a separation between his wife and God. She stopped attending church, would sit in on family prayer time, but not participate. The divide eventually spread to their marriage. Now in the middle of a divorce, Adam is faced with the idea that this is his failure too. Looking back and seeing how God has shown up and taken care of Adam and his family, helps him trust that God has this moment too. Adam is learning to be patient and wait. But, while Adam waits, he’s learning that God has work elsewhere for him to do. Just because God has me in this moment, doesn’t mean I won’t feel this pain. It means that God will redeem this pain. He’ll make this into something valuable. “You can make it through this, but get a spotter” Reach out to God and reach out to a Christian friend, someone so you don’t break. Who is God to Adam? “My King, My Father, who allows me the freedom to make my own mistakes and then helps me deal with the fallout in a way that allows me to learn and to grow and to become better.” Gratitude Patience Equipping Trust Divorce

This is the first in a two part story. We’ll walk with Adam through his formative years as he learns to trust God. In the second episode we’ll hear how Adam is in the middle of putting that trust into action in the middle of the storm.Adam grew up in a close family working in agriculture in Kansas. His family was active in his Lutheran church growing up. While very active in the church as a child as he grew up, it became less meaningful. Were there times that he needed God to show up as a kid? At age 9, Adam had an infection that his body’s autoimmune response was to kill the pancreas. This resulted in diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes. He had to learn to live with this new condition at a time when we knew a whole lot less about it than we do now. He had to learn to give himself shots, to keep snacks around. He began to think that this medical condition was a punishment for something he had done; or maybe God wasn’t as real as the religion he grew up in wanted him to believe God was. This allowed bitterness and resentment to creep in. The distance between Adam and God grew. Eventually, Adam felt so worn down, that he found himself looking for ways to end his life in a way that would not look like suicide. In the midst of his multiple ineffective attempts that God clearly communicated that God was not done with Adam yet. And that Adam was not to try and do God’s job. This experience helped Adam get through confirmation in his church and confirming what he believed about God.God continued through Adam’s life to reaffirm that God was not done with him yet. A theme in Adam’s life began to develop. God was watching over Adam and repeating, “You can’t do this on your own, but I’ve got you.” Fast forward, at age 21, Adam was married and wanted to fulfill his dream of being a father. Struggling to have kids, Adam found out through a fertility clinic that he would not ever have kids. His wife divorced him as she wanted to have a family and wanted to do that with someone else. This led Adam down a self destructive road apart from God. Even though Adam wasn’t giving God a second thought, Looking back, Adam realized that God was walking through him with this. Four years later, engaged to a woman who was not able to have kids, found out they were expecting their first son. Just over a year later, their second son arrived. God was blessing Adam, even though Adam was not walking with, talking to, or even thinking about God. God answered ‘YES’ to a prayer that Adam hadn’t prayed in years, that he thought the answer was “NO”.. Through an Alpha Class that met at a local bar, Adam reencountered God. God said, Remember me? I’m the one that did this for you. It was, “Hey, I’m real. Come get to know me.” This was the beginning of a meaningful personal relationship with God. We’ll finish this episode rewinding to an episode in Adam’s life when he made bad decisions and found himself picking up a Gideons bible while in jail. God showed up time and again to keep Adam from driving his life off a cliff. God proved that he was faithful even when Adam was not. Confirmation Diabetes Suicide Infertility God’s Blessing

How does a foul-ball screwed-up kid, who doesn’t want to make it to 14, get to this place in the middle of God’s love.Larry started life very confused about who God is. His parents divorced when he was young and he felt that the broken family was his fault. Thinking that if he had been a better kid, his parents would still be married. As an Altar Boy in a Latin Catholic Mass, Larry had no understanding of what he was involved in. This left Larry at a point where God was not even on his mind, and by his early teens, regularly considering suicide.Larry talks about how his dad had a temper. Though he knew his dad loved him, he never heard his dad tell him that he loved him. He never told his dad that he loved him either, as even until the end of his dad’s life he was still impacted by fear of his dad.A few teachers and coaches made a connection and impact in Larry’s life. Larry found an outlet in sports. One of his connections in sports led him to Lincoln, Nebraska to walk on as a college athlete for the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers. While in Nebraska he met his future wife. While dating, a hard breakup sent him packing, back to L.A. After reconciling they married and lived in Los Angeles. Unable to find a job along with her desire to be close to family, they returned to Nebraska.Larry started to understand faith when his wife wanted their daughter to go to a Lutheran school and said that he needed to start to learn a little about the Lutheran religion. This mixed with seeing that others in his life who expressed faith in God had a peace in their life that Larry wanted and couldn’t explain created an opening in his heart.Larry had spent his entire life with a fear of what he thought God was. Then when he started to see a compassionate and peaceful God he started to open up to the realization of Who God really was. Not who he had thought God was. For Larry, seeing was believing. He had spent his life not believing in God because he couldn’t see him, and had never seen proof that God existed. When the Lutheran pastor asked him why he believed God didn’t exist because he’d never seen proof that he didn’t exist. This question changed how Larry thought. It opened up his mind and heart and Larry’s life changed.It wasn’t an easy road after that moment, but Larry said there have been a lot of blessings. Listen to hear how his life changed and what some of those blessings have been. Listen to hear how God turned Larry's failures into ministry opportunities to impact and change the lives of others.

Following a Father’s model of a life lived with the Father. Bob ThuneBob grew up in a small town of 800 in the middle of South Dakota. Bob’s relationship with his dad was very impactful on Bob. He learned a lot about character from his dad’s example.Though Bob’s parents were religious, they weren’t…Genuine Believers. Bob shares the story of how his dad, Harold, as an adult was led to Christ by a high school friend. The high school friend, John, living in California, had a heart for Harold to come to a genuine faith in Jesus. While in California, John got other believers in their church to start praying for Harold and an opportunity to share the Gospel with them all the way back in South Dakota. Eventually that opportunity arose and John and his wife invited Harold and his wife to their house for a bible study. When they heard the Gospel, they entered into a personal relationship with Jesus that they hadn’t experienced before. This created a dramatic change in their life.Bob’s parents felt that the church they were a part of wasn’t sharing the gospel, so they joined with a couple other families and started their own church. This decision to start a church had strong consequences in the small town, as many in their town felt betrayed. Business declined in the small hardware business they owned as many in the town boycotted the business.Watching his parents travers this journey laid the foundation for Bob to develop his own relationship with Jesus. This led Bob eventually to ministry and pastoring a church. His youngest brother John grew up to be a US Senator and the Minority Whip.Bob’s parents modeled genuinely their faith and relationship with Jesus for their family. Bob credits his parents' sincerity regarding their relationship with God, and modeling the value of a relationship with Christ for creating a recognition and desire to take ownership of his own walk with Christ. Through daily family devotions and a camp experience Bob learned how to have a quiet time, to open up the bible, study and pray. This was the foundation for his personal growth and development in his own faith with God.Bob shares Who God is, by sharing how God has shown up in his life. Tune in for the rest of the story of Bob’s amazing life.

[This episode is a follow up of Season 1 Episode 2]From the heights of the Rockies to the bottom of a bottle. In the next installment of his story, Matt Anderson shares how he met and gave his life to God in the Rockies at an Amway business meeting and how that encounter transformed his life.It wouldn't be long until his faith would be tested when he and his wife faced the embarrassing loss of a family business and standing in the community. This was followed shortly by the heart wrenching battles of her struggle with health and eventual death. Left alone as a single dad and widower, bearing the weight of the loss of the love of his life, for the first time Matt turned to alcohol.In this episode, Matt shares how God continued to show up in miraculous ways. From unexplained miracles to the right person showing up with the right message at the right time. God even brought a community around Matt to share with his family in a time of great need. Matt shares how God ultimately prepared him to be at his wife's side when her body finally failed. You'll continue to hear how God was involved in the intimate details of Matt's life and the lives of those around him.When talking about his past, his failures and embarrassments Matt said, "When someone tries to bring up my past, it's like someone trying to rob my old house. I don't live there anymore."This and so much more. You'll not want to miss.

As Jim went through the caring for his parents as their health failed and he eventually buried them he also saw his marriage fall apart, Jim was confronted with his need for the health and healing that only an intimate God would provide. God would step into his life through his involvement in the church. It was through one on one relationships and small groups that Jim has found healing and meaning in his life. It was through this involvement that Jim would develop relationships with other men who walked with him through the mountains of his life. Jim found emotional and spiritual maturity as he grew closer to God in these relationships. As an introvert, these relationships were vitalizing and exhausting. Jim attributes a lot of his growth to reading. Specifically reading and studying books with other men. These men challenged Jim to dig into God’s word and start memorizing scripture. In this episode Jim will share with us some of the scripture he has memorized and you’ll see why it was meaningful to him. It is through the relationships and memorizing God’s word that Jim has been built up and supported. You may be an introvert, and listening to this podcast may be enough human interaction for you. We want you to know that even introverts need a few key relationships with others who can walk alongside you and encourage you as you draw closer to God who will strengthen and embolden you.

Believing in God was one thing, but having a relationship with God? …That was totally different. -Aaron RoodAaron’s life is an example of how even though Aaron was not pursuing God, God was pursuing Aaron. God was putting things in place for Aaron even though he wasn’t asking or seeking. Aaron was a PK (Preacher’s Kid) who eventually found a personal relationship with Jesus after decades in a church. Aaron shares about his journey from being churched to being in a relationship. As a PK, of course Aaron grew up in church, but by the time he was in high school, Aaron started taking time off from God. Aaron wasn’t rejecting God, but just wasn’t engaging God in any way. Aaron felt like he was kind of drifting through life and letting life happen around him. Yet somehow God was already working in his life. Aaron shares the example of how God brought him and his wife together in the middle of this drifting. Several years down the road, while Aaron and his wife were on the praise/worship team at their own church, chaos in their church sent them visiting another church. While there, they were asked if they “had a personal relationship with Jesus Christ? Have you accepted Christ?” Even having grown up in a church, Aaron had no idea what that meant. He believed in God and Jesus and doing good things. He didn't know that Jesus wanted to have a role in his life. “Believing in God was one thing, but having a relationship with God? …That was totally different.” “Jesus did this for me to fill the gap, so I can go straight to God.” Aaron began to Grow: “I didn’t want to be a good person, I wanted to be a good Man. But what does that mean?” He started on a journey to figure out what having a relationship with God meant. “Christ came to save us, but also to give us life and joy now.” Does growing closer to God mean learning to do what we were intended to do? “I feel God is giving me a sense of urgency. God created us for relationship. When I accepted Christ, it was the start of that relationship that’s been growing ever since.” Aaron shares how while he’s heard God’s voice, he thinks God mostly uses other people to speak to him. Tune in to hear about the journey as Aaron learns his wife is diagnosed with MS. Hear how Aaron wrestles with, “What does the Vow ‘in sickness and in health’ mean?”

What would it look like if you followed the vision God gave you for your life and ministry? Join me for this Dynamite story. As Tom and Lori share how, “Work Hard. Pray Hard. Trust God." became a mantra on the wall in their home.Early on in his adult life, Tom followed the plan God had for him. He felt his role was to hold God’s hand and let God lead him. From a radio job waiting for him out of college, to a job in the Investment business, to a calling, he and his wife received, to start a Ministry/Business in Financial Services. Tom shares what it was like to follow God. They faced some trials right away that led them to let go of the business and trust God to manage it as Tom had to step away and tend to family issues. When he came back, the company was still there. This led Tom to continue to Trust God more and more.Listening to the story of a missionary agency that was having to shut down because of poor investment decisions, led them to see a need for consulting in financial decisions. They saw a vision that was “so clear and so real,” there was no doubt that we had to follow the vision God was giving them. It wasn’t a prayer of should we do this, but ‘What do you want us to do next?’Once they committed to pursue God’s vision, they immediately saw that God had laid the groundwork for their vision to take place. They saw how God had already put things in place for them to succeed.The first five years starting the Ministry/Business were some of the most difficult years of their life. But it led them to recognize that God could see the beginning from the end, and the end from the beginning and everything in between. "The best thing you can do is immerse yourself in the word of God." Tom would get up early, before anyone else, to spend time with God. Learning to look at things from God’s perspective, led Tom to trust God more and more.Having spent hours and days and years immersed in God’s word and in Prayer with God, the fifth year of setting up their Ministry/Business was the greatest, most wonderful, most blessed year of spiritual growth that Tom has known in his life. “I wouldn’t trade the struggles of that year for anything.”God led them to use the platform of their Financial Services Ministry/Business to focus on four things…Use the platform of money to introduce people to Christ who don’t know him as their Lord and Savior.Make disciples of those who had made that commitment and now want to follow God in financial matters.Impact families by strengthening marriages, helping parents to train children to be faithful stewards, so that money is not a problem in marriages and families.Reproduce themselves in the lives of others so they could go out and do the same in others.The risk in life became: not in going forward and doing it, but in pulling the plug and not going forward. Because they would have missed being a part of what God was doing and using them as missionaries in the financial field.All this in the first 20 minutes. You’ll definitely want to hear the rest.

Success = Love and Safety, Right? - Randy RalstonIs the safety we find in our performance and success truly safe?Randy learned at an early age that Grace existed… but in a performance based environment. He excelled in everything he did, and that led to a sense of safety. The stress of continued performance led him to finally break, learning in the process that God would continue to use him to lead others to healing even though he was broken and resisted letting God heal some of his deepest wounds.This podcast could also be called, Finding Fulfillment apart from God.My guest is longtime friend and co-sojourner Randy Ralston.At age 10 Randy’s impression of God was that he was Angry, Capricious, Pernicious and demanded obedience, led with fear and shame. Randy's understanding of God’s personality was influenced by his relationship with his parents. These relationships led to a perspective of God that was centered around fear. The fear that “If you don’t perform, or worse yet, you disobey, are disrespectful or dishonor your parents,” there would be punishment and ultimately rejection.Randy opens up and shares how one, seemingly insignificant moment, defined the relationship with his mom and impacted his personality and his perception of God. This moment of perceived rejection, led Randy to a deep pursuit of acceptance and significance.Randy shares how his identity became what he did and what happened to him. This reinforced his perception that performing was the only way to find significance, and importance in the lives of those around him.Over the years, it appears that Randy transformed this performance personality into a mission to make things better for everyone around him. This led to the idea that, not only could Randy perform enough to find a stable, safe place in the relationships around him, but he could provide that for others as well. He tried to be the hero in the lives of his family. Often saving them when they hadn’t asked to be saved.Eventually, all these efforts to continually perform and save himself and others from the pain of punishment and the ultimate punishment, rejection, became too much of a burden to shoulder. Randy had found his breaking point. He responded by pushing even deeper into helping and serving others while covering the stress fractures that were showing up with alcohol. The harder he pursued success and significance through performance the more alcohol he needed. It started with drinking at the end of each day and led to drinking all day.Now, 30 years later Randy says he can’t come close to understanding who God is, but that his earlier perspective has proven to not be true. While he can’t explain who God is, Randy knows that God is Really Really Good.Randy and I discuss how God is not the Angry God that we perceived him to be. How the older he gets, the more Grace filled Randy learns that God really is.Randy sees that God used him even as broken as he was, to touch and influence the lives of those around him. Even though Randy had not let God into the areas in his own life that he was touching in the lives of others.“God uses the most broken parts of me, the most effectively in healing of others.”#Omnipotence #Alcoholism #Brokenness #Success #Healing #RealGrace #GodIsGood #Family

On today’s episode, I talk with Steve Hawkins about addiction; specifically to Alcohol. For Steve, alcoholism was not the stereotypical journey. His story is not what you normally think of as that of an addict. For years Steve was a highly functioning alcoholic. He was successful at work, in his public life, and even at home. But alcohol still had a grip on his life and eventually it brought him to a breaking point. Steve lived a double life. For years Steve struggled as a living Jekyll and Hyde. Playing the excellent Dr. Jekyll at home and work, all the while hiding his drive to break free from the stress of success and finding relief in times alone as Mr. Hyde with a drink.Yet, God had an eye on Steve. God had a plan for Steve and he walked with Steve until on a business trip, alone in his hotel room, Steve got down on his knees and surrendered completely to God’s will. Join me as I learn what it’s like to be an alcoholic. What are the struggles mentally, emotionally, socially and spiritually for someone who has addiction. Maybe you or your loved ones share some of the trauma of not being a good husband, father or friend. Maybe you’re living the double life. Maybe you're finding success at work, but it's coming at the price. Maybe you've got pain or stress that you're using alcohol or something else to mask to hide or to cover up. There is hope. There is redemption. There is a way to set things right and make amends for your past. There is a brighter future. A beautiful sunrise ahead of you. If you’re reading this, God has his eye on you. He is looking forward to walking you into that brighter future. He loves you and has a plan for you. Join me in this podcast and maybe, just maybe, you'll begin to see that future, that beautiful sunrise that's just ahead of you after the darkness you're in now.

Born and raised in South Korea, for Jung being a Christian was a cultural and family thing. It wasn’t until his family moved to America that in a High School church group, Jung found his hunger and thirst for God. Then he spent a year in the wilderness, as a freshman in college as the only Korean at USD in Vermillion South Dakota. He was a long way from home and without friends or even others that spoke his language. He had to struggle with loneliness as he had to learn to speak English in order to be a successful college student. The summer after his freshman year Jung realized that he had lost his hunger and thirst for God. He decided to take a chance and go to a college student retreat and the last night he heard from God in a miraculous way. The intimate way God spoke to Jung reignited his fire and hunger for walking with God. Jung changed his mind and decided to go back to the small university in the small town in South Dakota. What was a barren wilderness had become a land flowing with milk and honey. Over the course of the next several years Jung quickly became involved in worship ministry for several organizations. He had gone from having no friends on campus to being the guy to know if you needed someone to lead worship. Jung can look back and see how God was there even in the dark times. You’ll want to listen for the details and the rest of the story.#Journey #Wilderness #Lonely #WorshipLeader #Immigrant

This episode could also be titled, “The Broken - Unbroken. When life broke them, Christ held them together.”I laughed. I cried. This story will move you. Farmer Todd grew up knowing that he would happily fulfill his family expectations of being a sugar beet farmer on the family farm outside the little northern Minnesota Town of Climax. But instead of this being the pinnacle of his life, God said it's just the beginning.Today Todd shares how he faced the loss of dreams, letting his parents down when he felt called to something instead of farming, and countless other times in his life of darkness and insecurity of the unknown future. Todd has chosen intentional Faith in God and how God has delighted in blessing him through the trials. One of these big trials of the unknown future was as Todd and his wife Karen fought cancer for 16 years, terminal cancer for 8 of those years. While raising two kids in the middle of their fight, Todd and Karen didn't just talk about a loving God. Their kids saw a loving God show up time and time again. Todd shares an excellent example of how his wife parented children who grew up watching their mom fight cancer and prepare for her departure. Todd shares his struggle as a widower following the loss of half of himself. God doesn't focus on how we're not like him, but instead on how He makes us like Him. #Aloneness #Loneliness #Healed #AnsweredPrayer#Providence

WIG 2-10 Harold BerryThis is a story of a life pursuing God and the ministry of serving God. Harold continued to pursue serving God using the gifts, opportunities and relationships provided to him.At 89, Harold as a widower has met a Widow Mary and the 2 are to wed. Even at their age, God still has a purpose to unite Harold and his new bride.“If you want to hear God speak audibly to you, read the Bible out loud.”The importance of discipleship. follow up. Not just drinking in the word of God, but sharing it.Follow-up.Receive - Something to ReadReflect - What does this mean to youRespond - Apply it , Share it with someone else.Develop and memorize a short testimony that you will never wonder what to say when you meet a stranger.Join the Conversation https://www.facebook.com/WhoisGodpodcast/https://tackleboxstudios.com/More on Harold Berryhttps://www.backtothebible.org/Harold J Berry Books on Amazon.com https://www.amazon.com/s?k=harold+j+berry&i=stripbooks&crid=OENE6QO7GAG7&sprefix=harold+j+berry%2Cstripbooks%2C98&ref=nb_sb_noss

Today I talked with the founder of Greatest Life Ministries, and the North American Director. “There is a quality of life that is the greatest possible.”Solves the Greatest ProblemBrings the Greatest GoodProvides the Greatest Future.Michael and Graham share how you and I can live the Greatest Life. And.. There's nothing we can do. It’s letting Christ live in us. We actually have to die to ourselves and Let Christ live the life while taking us along for the ride. This seems a little unbelievable. Join me as they help me understand that I can live the Greatest Life.If you’ve missed either of these men’s stories, you can listen to Graham Stamford in Season 1 Episode 1 https://rss.com/podcasts/whoisgod/1150256/Michael Wolfe in Season 2 Episode 8  https://rss.com/podcasts/whoisgod/1374995/Find us and support us through donation on Tackle Box Studios at https://tackleboxstudios.com/Or on https://www.facebook.com/WhoisGodpodcast

Born in Iowa, growing up on a farm, in a small town. Though he grew up in a mainline denomination, found himself interested in and looking to the Baha’i faith.While in High School, Michael saw the immediate answer to a prayer. This led to an immediate belief in God. He became a Christian, but says he hadn’t met Jesus. This new faith caused some changes in him that made him look at the world very differently. What Michael calls sin, became very apparent to him. But he still didn’t know what it meant to be a Christian. He learned very clearly over the next several years that he was a sinner and needed his sins forgiven. He understood that Jesus was the payment for those sins. Frustrated that he continued to sin, no matter how hard he kept trying. Michael was becoming disillusioned in living the Christian life, maybe even being a Christian.It wasn’t until he heard a guest speaker in Bible College say, “You can’t live the Christian life, so stop trying.” Stop trying really hard to be a Christian. Wait?!? What?!?Michael says he learned that day that He couldn’t live a Christian life and wasn’t expected to. If his life was going to be meaningful, fruitful, it was going to be God’s work in his life. It was going to be Jesus living in Michael that was meaningful. This was when Michael met Jesus. Jesus didn’t die to get us out of Hell and into Heaven. Jesus came to get out of Heaven and into Us.You can't become a better person. You can't become holy. Only Jesus working in you can accomplish these things. Hear how Michael's life has changed since he stopped trying to be a better Christian and let Jesus do the work in him. It has been Christ in Michael. "You can't but He can!" What does it mean to let it be Jesus in You?

This is a Story of a broken life that God called to himself. How God provided rest in spite of a journey of brokenness.Carlos, born and raised in Brazil, now living in America. Carlos was led on a journey following a broken model of his father and other men in his life, that took him down a destructive road of seeking fulfillment in worldly success, seeing women as objects to bring him pleasure, but little more.After College, Carlos found himself respected professionally, but detestable in his personal life. This left him feeling alone, rejected, and insecure. He had a deep desire to stop hiding his failures. He had a desperate need to be known and loved in spite of his detestable life. He was tired of carrying the guilt of his broken actions. Along the path God gave Carlos glimpses of a Shalom Peace that he deeply desired, but could not find. The misconceptions of the character of God, "Who God Is" left Carlos running from God, avoiding Him for fear of being rejected, condemned and justly punished for all the things Carlos had done and even continued to do.Yet God continued to pursue Carlos, eventually leading him to a place where Carlos was willing to, having looked everywhere else, look to God's Word, scripture, the Holy Bible, for truth, answers and the Peace he so yearned for, but could not find.Join me as we hear the story of how God becomes a father for Carlos that he did not have with his earthy father. How Carlos talks about the personal interactive relationship with a God who loves him, sees him, hears him, and lovingly guides him.If Carlos can experience God in this way. Maybe you can too.

In this episode Pastor John and I talk about a lifelong struggle of guilt, shame, fear, loneliness and rejection that was the result of being introduced to pornography and addiction at a very young age. He shares how he carried this weight alone while growing up as a pastor's kid, through bible college, having false authenticity that prevented deep meaningful intimacy with his wife and even into his time as a pastor. “My Struggle with sin means I’m not acceptable.”The constant fear of being found out and the rejection that surely would follow drove a desire to perform for God and those around him. John would teach others about God's love for them while never feeling it for himself. “I didn’t know that freedom from Sin, Guilt, Shame, was even possible.”John shares the struggle and fear of being completely honest with his wife. "When you’re trapped in something like this, you can’t be authentic." So there was no real intimacy in their relationship. He shares some of the pitfalls they encountered and wrestled with while trying to find healing for John, his wife and their relationship. He shares what they went through to eventually find healing and restoration in their marriage. "Wearing the mask leaves you, feeling loved for what you’ve done, not for who you are”All the time God was faithful, continually nudging and pursuing John to a place of healing. "You can’t be accepted if you’re not known, and you can’t be known if you’re not vulnerable." "Vulnerability is scary, but it’s worth it." John is learning how to have a relationship with God that’s based on who God is and who God is making John to be vs what John can do to please him.#Pornography #Addiction #Guilt #Shame #StuntedSpiritualGrowth #Depression #ThereIsHope #PureDesire

Join me as I sit with a childhood friend who has been dragged through the muck of life. He will share how he moved from failure as a man, father, husband, leader and Christian into a life where he walks hand in hand with God each day. We'll talk about Divorce, Loss of Identity, Brokenness, fruitless efforts at earning Grace and thoughts of Worthlessness and Suicide. Learn how community, especially Christian community can offer healing. Hear how God showed up and affirmed how amazing Drew is, even when Drew didn't think so. Drew will share how his community loved him back to mental and emotional health; How he learned to allow himself to be loved by God; and realized that God was always and continues to love Drew and work for his good.If you can relate with any of this, this is an episode you need to hear and share.#Grief #Loneliness #BorrowedFaith

John, a man led to lead men, and I covered a lot a ground as we discuss his story. It was during the loss of a marriage and business that John found his deep relationship with God. John talks about how surrendering to God created great growth in his life. He shares what it is like to be used by God, to hear God's words come out of your mouth and be exactly what that other person needs to hear and realizing these words could not come from you. This is just scratching the surface of our conversation. If you want to know what it is like to have a deeply personal, intimate and interactive relationship with a living God, Listen to this podcast.

Long time friend Derek joins me this week as we talk about fatherhood with The Father. Have you heard your kids ask, "Dad, How did you know?!?" Derek shares a time when God showed up and joined them in the middle of a conversation. God gave them exactly what they needed in that moment in a way that deeply impacted his son's understanding and intimacy with God. Derek has learned to trust God in all that he does. We'll talk about parenting. We'll talk about trusting God when he walks us out of and into new careers. The new career and be a huge blessing.Derek shares other stories of how God has blessed him in ways he never imagined.We'd love to hear from how this episode has impacted you. Share that and your story at https://www.facebook.com/WhoisGodpodcast

Today I chat with Steve Borland. Join us as we hear How Steve migrates through life, aware of God, but not really having anything to do with God. He experiences, the loss of a company and a marriage all with out seeking God and while continuing to enjoy the party side of life.Finally as a single dad he starts pursuing the single mother of his children's friends.Steve pursued her to church which led to connecting with a 'church family.' Her group of friends became his group of friends. Shortly after marrying, on the way to a family vacation, Tragedy Strikes! Steve gets a phone call after midnight from a paramedic, "Your entire family has been in a horrific accident." His wife and 6 kids were in being airlifted to multiple hospitals.Hear how God Showed up in the middle of unimaginable tragedy. In the midst of losing a child, two others in critical condition, and the loss of the their home, They experienced the power of payer, the Church Family showing up, and a God who shows up personally and orchestrated an amazing future.#Tragedy2Triumph#StrongWoman

Have you read the book of Revelation? Do you think you know what will happen? You need to hear this.If you have FEAR or ANXIETY about the state of America or the state of the world, you need to hear this.Having talked with George Markakis about his story and understanding his history and ministry, travelling around the world sharing the gospel and see how God is working, I wanted to hear his perspective on America, the Church in America and around the world.What if you think of America not as a county, but as a society or a culture? Would that change how you think? We talk about how God uses Empires/Cultures to spread the Gospel.What role will you have in the END TIMES?Faith is Trust and Loyalty#GodIsOnTheMove #Prayer #CollapseOfTheDollar #FearStemsFromPride

This week I talked with George Markakis. George was Schooled in Economics and worked at the top levels of a multinational corporation.Several miraculous instances in his life led George to believe that someone was behind him and before him. Though George was raised in the Greek Orthodox church, George was a nominal Christian. George states that he knew of God, but had no experience or relationship with God. These encounters culminated on an event that left George in a place of complete surrender.Years later George felt led to leave the success and comfort of his corporate job and go into ministry fulltime. In a country and culture where pastors are not financially supported by congregations, this was a big step.Join me for the Story of how God has led George down a path of God's choosing. How God speaks to George through the scripture and how God has and continues to provide for George and his family despite George doing the work of fundraising.

Join me as we hear how Mark was slowly walking into a relationship with Jesus. It was commitment to the love of his life that led to commitment to the lover of his soul.Early in his relationship with God, a mentor showed up to help him dig deep into the bible. Then becoming part of bible study with a group who has stayed close for decades has led to a solid relationship of trust in God.You'll hear the integrity in his faith throughout his life and how it has culminated in his current cancer diagnosis. The has lead to a deep sense of peace amidst treatment for cancer that has returned.Listen for how you may find hope in your times of trial.

Most of our episodes ask Who Is God? Today we are asking Who Is St. Nicholas?Many of us have grown up with the story of Santa Claus at Christmas. Countless movies have been made about the Jolly Old Fellow. Santa Claus is only about 200 years old. His namesake, St Nicholas, that's another story. This is that story.I welcome friend and self-proclaimed St Nicholas expert Tony Ojeda. (Did you see my rosy-red cheek and wink when I said expert?) Seriously, Join us as we discuss the man names St. Nicholas. Who he was? How did he become a Saint? And How did we get from a 3rd Century Bishop to a cookie snacking, milk swigging, chimney diver that tracks whether you've been naughty or nice.Join us. You're sure to learn something interesting. Maybe you'll even be able to win the Christmas Trivia contest for that oversized Toblerone. Maybe you'll gain a new appreciation for Saint Nick. And just maybe we'll learn a little more about Who God Is!

In this episode, Kurt talks about how in his teens and early 20's he pursued an exciting life to fill his need to be seen. This led to a rebellious life. This path led him to an encounter with Christ as a late teen. After a few short years of study of God's word and walking with God, God let him venture back into his party life to arrive at a point where he learned the value of surrender, openness and vulnerability and true humility. In Kurt's story we see a God who was attentive in Kurt's life. Kurt learned to trust God through his trials and found God faithful in spite of his wildness and rebellion. Kurt found comfort through launching a child that chose their own rebellious wild path. Then hearing that the love of his life had cancer, crying out to God and hearing Him simply say, "Trust me."Through all of this, Kurt says God has been faithful, gentle and kind. He has been gracious and Kurt says God has given him a blessed life. Tune in to hear all about how God redeemed a Rebel. Share your thoughts and how God has impacted you through this episode on https://www.facebook.com/WhoisGodpodcast. We'd love to hear from you.

This week my guest is Cancer Thriver, Darryl Rahn, Darryl has faced some of life's most difficult challenges and become one of the most positive people I know.Darryl places the reason for his positive, hopeful and cheerful attitude firmly in his relationship with his God and savior Jesus Christ.Daryl shares how as a kid he faced both dying from cancer and amputation of his leg before completing his freshman year of Highschool. He talks about fear of rejection as someone who is disabled, Especially as a young man in Highschool who hopes he can find someone who will love him as he is with just one leg.You'll hear how Darryl continues to be an athlete, found the love of his life and is now well into his grandparent years.In this story we'll learn how God showed up time and again in Darryl's life. You'll see a real god who interacts with Darryl and has walked with him through life's trials and is the reason Darry is at peace with what so many others struggle with.#Amputation #Childhood Cancer

Tune in to hear Jake say repeatedly say "Next Time" when he wanted to say "No" to the call to relationship with God. When "Next time" finally became this time, it meant a journey to foreign lands and life changing events.Jake is a small town Nebraska boy who excelled in sports and academics in school but failed to find his identity. Jake pursued a double life chasing after meaning in all that life and the world had to offer.Several times Jake was invited to participate in events and trips and his inability to say "No." led him to encounter a God who was real. When he met people who had obvious and impactful relationships with an almighty God, he found that again, he couldn't say "No" and surrendered to his destiny to become one of them and encounter God himself.Instead of partying on the beach over spring break in college, Jake found himself sharing the gospel to the partiers instead.

Matt Anderson shares his journey starting with not paying attention to God and moving to being angry with God to learning to live in God's acceptance and blessing. In this story you'll hear miracles. Listen as Matt shares some of the Tragedies in his life that were turned into triumphs not once, but repeatedly. In this story, you'll hear how Matt was doing it wrong again and again, yet God seemed patient, kind, and gentle. God even seems to bless Matt when Matt was more likely to curse at God. Highlights:Matt encounters the Fisherman in a 3 piece suit. Being late became right on time. A dumpster proposal that ignited a fire of passion. You'll laugh, and you may even cry.

Have you ever asked if there was a god? If so, Have you ever asked who is god? I have asked these two questions and I've come to the conclusion that there is a god. I've read, heard and seen stories that convince me that there must be a god. I was intrigued enough to ask who this god is. Because, I'd like to know. That started me on a journey to collect the stories about people who have encountered god. I'm gathering first hand stories that will help me to get a better picture and maybe even an understanding of who god is. If you're curious to learn answers to these two questions, join me as we hear some of the stories of average people like you and me who have encountered a living god in a way that has impacted and changed their life. Three ways to get to know someone:Read about themTalk to themTalk to people who know themIn this podcast we'll talk to people who have met or claim to know god. We'll hear about their experiences and together, we'll pursue answers to these two questions. Maybe you too will encounter a god that will impact and change your life.

Graham Stamford is the founder of Greatest Life Ministries and of SportsReach. At the age of 80 Graham still plays soccer and is living his best life. In this episode Graham shares how as a teenager, he was looking for three things:The Best direction for his life,Truth, real truth,How he could live the best life. He was not willing to settle for second best.At the moment he knew what he was looking for, someone came into his life and showed him the answer to all three of these questions.Tune in to hear Graham speak about how he has gone places he never thought he'd go and has done things he never thought he'd do, and how a high school dropout has taught at multiple universities.Learn more about Graham athttps://greatestlifeministries.com/http://sportsreach.org.uk/about/Learn to live your Greatest LifeOvercoming AdversityLove for football lead to love for othersDo you have a plan for your lifeJoin in the conversation and share how this episode has impacted you in our page at https://www.facebook.com/WhoisGodpodcast/