America Reads The Bible | Join the Movement Now
https://www.americareadsthebible.com/

Bunni Pounds Website
https://www.bunnipounds.com/

We are currently living in a nation that desperately needs leaders who are resolute in standing upon the principles created by our founding fathers. It is these tenets of freedom and liberty that have forged a nation of opportunity and promise.

But long before foundational leaders like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison, shaped the constitutional framework that defined our American Ideals, there was a Fifth Century Jewish cupbearer who was renowned for his leadership, relying on prayer, courage, and integrity to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls in just 52 days.

Author Bunni Pounds is calling Christians to reclaim their influence by following the leadership principles of that aforementioned Jewish leader, Nehemiah. Pounds points out that God uses ordinary people like him to respond to national challenges with extraordinary courage.

In her forthcoming book, Stepping Up to Lead: Building a Nation in the Footsteps of Nehemiah, Pounds challenges believers not to retreat from cultural and civic arenas, but to engage them boldly—rebuilding what is broken and shaping the future with godly conviction. The book serves as both a guide and a practical roadmap for those ready to step up and lead in their communities and beyond.

As a former political consultant who spent 16 years in politics and government, the Texas native launched Christians Engaged in 2019 to mobilize believers to pray, vote, and engage biblically in every election.

In her latest initiative, coming April 18th through the 25th, Pounds has rallied more than 450 Christian leaders to come together for “America Reads the Bible”, a week-long Bible reading event to celebrate our nation’s 250th Birthday at the Museum of the Bible.

I recently sat down with Pounds to discuss why the story of Nehemiah is especially relevant to Americans right now, what Biblical leadership should look like at this moment, and the value of coming together to read the Bible in anticipation of America’s 250th Birthday.

A GREAT AWAKENING | Official Trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4-rMC88ylQ



Sight & Sound Theatres | Bible Stories Live on Stage
https://www.sight-sound.com/

As our nation gears up to celebrate her 250th Anniversary later this summer, one can’t help but feel patriotic about a remarkable journey that began in 1776. It is an opportunity to honor the ideals of freedom, democracy, and resilience that have shaped our country’s history.

It is a time to celebrate the diversity, innovation, and enduring spirit of the American people, while also acknowledging the challenges and complexities of the past.

Our founding fathers would be humbled by the renewed commitment to the values that they established, foundational truths that will guide our nation into its next chapter.

Through the years, so much has been said about George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin, about their contributions to charting the course of our history, but there are so many other heroes from that era that we know little about.

Take Rev. George Whitefield for example. A close friend of Franklin, Whitefield is best known for sparking the first Great Awakening, a movement that united an entire nation with his proclamation of liberty in Christ.

To honor Whitefield’s contribution to the foundational bedrock of faith in our nation, Sight & Sound Theaters, best known for their spectacular theatrical presentations of the Bible, is releasing a new full length feature film called “A Great Awakening”. With the nation’s freedom hanging in the balance, “A Great Awakening” explores how an unlikely friendship resulted in one of the most defining moments in American history.

Joshua Enck not only wrote and directed “A Great Awakening”, but he also serves as Chief Story Officer for Sight & Sound, a ministry he has served since he began there in 1995 as a stage hand.

Enck, who has previously directed six Sight & Sound theatrical productions, joins us to chat about how the role of faith inspired unity during a very divided time in our nation's history. Listen as he shares how the relationship between Whitefield and Franklin shaped the early foundations of America.

Tim Hawkins Website
https://timhawkins.net

Cletus Take the Reel Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zfs3BJZxKkc&list=RDZfs3BJZxKkc&start_radio=1

The origins of comedy are rooted in ancient Greece, evolving from rituals and performances linked to festivities surrounding Dionysian celebrations.

From there, comedy has evolved over the centuries to serve not only as entertainment but also as social commentary, allowing audiences to reflect on their society’s follies and vices. So, in a sense, it became a way for people to laugh at the absurdities of society that was being marked by injustice and social change.

In the late 20th Century, comedy became a staple of modern society as satire, farce, and stand-up comedy explored different aspects of human behavior and societal norms.

If the aforementioned statements seem a bit high falutin’, well, they are. Simply put, we all like to laugh at ourselves and the world around us. We know funny when we see and hear it. From early Vaudevillians to Bob Hope to Jerry Seinfeld, we all seem to gravitate toward someone who can bring out the mirth and merriment in us.

Tim Hawkins is just that sort of person. Over the past three decades, the beloved comedian has gone from open mic nights at regional comedy clubs to headlining theaters and arenas across the United States with his own special brand of humor.

A committed family man, Hawkins, who is known for his hilarious song parodies, has become a YouTube sensation over the years for “songs” like “Cletus Take the Reel” and “Pretty Pink Tractor”. Genuinely funny and values driven, he has a new comedy special debuting this month called “Fist Bump”.

I recently sat down with the comedy veteran to discuss how he decides which real-life moments turn into comedy, why music plays such a vital role in his work, and why he didn’t pick up a guitar or write a joke during COVID.

Oracles of God Website

It has long been said that the Holy Bible has been and is the most influential book in the world. And why not? Written more than 1,500 years ago by more than 40 writers in three different languages, this tome known as the Word of God has influenced and shaped Western civilization in a host of notable areas as related to law, language, and cultures.

Christians view the Holy Bible as a living document, one that deepens their faith and serves as a guidebook to navigate through the challenges that daily living presents.

For as much as modern civilization continues to utilize the valuable lessons found within the Bible’s 66 chapters, little is known about how it came to be. How it was created and came together is sometimes a bit of a mystery to those who spend time immersed in reading it day by day.

Erin Zimmerman is a documentary filmmaker who has devoted much of her professional life to digging deeper into how things came to be as viewed through the lens of Scripture. In her latest film, “Oracles of God: The Story of the New Testament”, Zimmerman uses expert interviews, stunning cinematography, and dramatic reenactments to present how the text of the New Testament was written, painstakingly copied, and preserved over thousands of years.

Filmed on location in Israel, Zimmerman places a special focus on the oldest copies of the Hebrew Bible and the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Zimmerman joins us on the Crossmap Podcast to walk us through why the bestselling book of all time remains one of the most controversial texts in world history. Listen as she shares various misconceptions about the Bible and how she set out to dispel them in "Oracles of God".

Seeking Beauty with David Henrie | EWTN+ Documentary Series

We have all heard the phrase that “beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder”. In other words, what one person finds beautiful, another may not.

For you, beauty may be the pleasing visual of a young child’s laughing. For another, it might be a stunning mountain vista or the sight and sound of powerful ocean waves crashing on the shore. A few might even find the architecture of a pristine cathedral breathtaking and impossible to forget. Whatever may be the case, it is important to remember that any form of beauty within our range of experience or thought is God-given or divinely breathed.

Actor David Henrie, best known for his work on Disney’s Wizards of Waverly Place, and more recently in the movie Reagan, has made it his ambition to connect people with truth and beauty in an increasingly divisive world.

In the new documentary series, Seeking Beauty, currently streaming on EWTN+, Henrie tours Italy, on a quest to reveal authentic beauty and its undeniable connection to the divine.

Henrie joins me on The Crossmap Podcast to discuss where God fits into seeking beauty. Listen as he shares why beauty is more than what we see, and how he sees the world differently since making this series.

New York Times bestselling author Lee Strobel's journey to faith in Jesus Christ is well documented. A highly successful editor at the The Chicago Tribune, he was an atheist who set out to prove that Christ was nothing more than a solid teacher rather than the Son of God. What Strobel found forever changed his life and the lives of millions who read his book, The Case for Christ.

Over the years, this author of more than 25 books, including 11 from his The Case For series, has meticulously researched and investigated many of the claims made in the Bible, only to find them accurate and true each and every time.

Strobel's latest project is a continuation of his 2018 bestseller The Case for Miracles, a work that was designed to answer an age-old question: Do miracles still happen today? The Case for Miracles, the 2026 edition, is a documentary that takes viewers on a cinematic journey through suffering and ultimately joy to reveal the true essence of God’s design for miracles.

In the film’s 147 minutes, Strobel uses his trademark journalistic style to craft a case that challenges skeptics, strengthens believers, and ultimately leads audiences to the ultimate miracle, the Messiah’s birth in a stable more than 2,000 years ago.

I recently sat down with the astute and affable author to discuss the sociological and physiological impact or miracles in our lives, common threads he found in people who have experienced a miracle, and the most spectacular miracle he uncovered while working on this documentary.

• Lee Strobel's Website

Jen Lilley’s Website

So many people go through life believing in God but not fully experiencing the completeness of His presence. Sadly, they feel stuck and spiritually stagnant, questioning if there is more to faith than attending church, being happy once in a while, or having their prayers go unanswered.

Author Jen Lilley believes that Christians can reignite a vibrant faith by simply having a more committed and intimate relationship with Jesus, one that is rooted in truth, obedience, and freedom.

In her latest book, “Wake Up Your Faith: 365 Daily Encounters with Jesus”, Lilley, who has forged a successful career in television and film, reveals powerful insight into God’s healing power, faithfulness, and grace. With each daily reading, she guides her audience from a passive faith into a more spirit-filled life.

Lilley joins us on the Crossmap Podcast to encourage those who feel hesitant to boldly live out what they believe. Listen as she shares how to reignite your faith, claim the promises of God, and experience the presence of the Holy Spirit on a daily basis.

Discover Christian Nutrition | The Biblical Nutritionist
https://thebiblicalnutritionist.com

It’s the new year, and when it comes to good health, people all over the world are searching for answers. Desperate to lose weight and to find a healthier resolve, gym memberships rise tremendously this time of year while the latest, greatest diet fads seem to have a life of their own. They are all searching for the recipe to excellent health.

But what if the answer lies not in pumping more iron or eating kale three times per day? What if the solution can be found in the weathered pages of the true source.

With more than 20 million YouTube views to her credit, Annette Reeder wants to see the strongholds of food and substance addiction eradicated. She believes that people need to turn to God for better health instead of erecting pillars of “health” to worship that lead to further problems, both physically and spiritually.

Known as the Biblical Nutritionist, Reeder routinely shows people how to improve their health with the Biblical way of eating. She says that our bodies are His, and we can be nourished, refreshed, and healthier if we would just apply a few basic principles found in God's Word.
Reeder joins us on the Crossmap Podcast to share some practical advice on how to get the best nutrition from our eating habits. Listen as she shares how a few simple tweaks in your diet can add years, if not decades of healthy vitality to your life.