Episodes

  • Politics and the Pew: My Faith Votes President Says Everyone Brings Faith to the Voting Booth

    Politics and the Pew: My Faith Votes President Says Everyone Brings Faith to the Voting Booth
    Jul 28 2024
    Voting according to your faith values. We all do it. Yes, even an atheist. And that's one of big the problems with political polls and surveys measuring how much impact faith has on elections. They are based on the notion of institutional religion. But religion is not confined to a denomination or doctrine or congregation. Religion in its larger sense answers the big questions of life: "Why am I here? What's the purpose of my life? How do I treat people?" Morality and purpose. The answers to these questions, said one theologian, are at least implicitly religious because the answers have to be taken on faith, there is no scientific proof. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Jason Yates, president of My Faith Votes, explains the work ahead as his non-partisan organization endeavors to educate Christians about keeping a biblical worldview in the public square, not to be stymied by the demonization of Christianity which has grown larger and larger with the vitriol around "Christian Nationalism". Yates says, "They're trying to demoralize and shame, those of any beliefs that come against what they stand for... Too many people of faith have created a void and believe that lie that they should not be involved in the process... As a result, secular humanistic values and beliefs policies filled the void." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    36 mins
  • Dr. Stephen Meyer on How Science Reveals the Mind of God

    Dr. Stephen Meyer on How Science Reveals the Mind of God
    Jul 21 2024
    The belief that science disproves the existence of a creator God is so last century! It's an out of date, intellectually feeble assertion that has no basis in, well, science! The fact is, says Dr. Stephen Meyer, "The major discoveries of modern science over the last 100 years in cosmology and physics and biology are pointing in exactly the opposite direction." In other words, the more we delve the deepest depths of cosmology, biology, physics and beyond, the more we understand, "there must be a God somewhere," as the spiritual says. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Meyer, best-selling author and director of the Discovery Institute in Seattle, talks about his most recent book, "The Return of the God Hypothesis: Three Scientific Discoveries that Reveal the Mind Behind the Universe". For instance, DNA, the foundation of human building blocks. Meyer shows that scientists have known for quite a while that it would be a mathematical impossibility that random forces could create even a fully functioning amino-acid sequence to produce a protein for DNA; it would be about 1 in 10 to the 195th. That's a direct assault on Darwin's theory of evolution. Meyer writes, "Over the past three decades, many evolutionary biologists have challenged a key tenet of the neo-Darwinian synthesis, namely the idea that small-scale microevolutionary changes can be extrapolated to explain large-scale macroevolution innovations." It's complicated, and yet so simple: "And God said..." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    43 mins
  • Former Australian Prime Minister Talks About God's Work In Politics

    Former Australian Prime Minister Talks About God's Work In Politics
    Jul 14 2024
    Most politicians tend to write books about what they've done while in office. But Scott Morrison, a former Prime Minister of Australia, wanted to write about what God has done and continues to do for him. Morrison is candid about how God brought him through some of the most harrowing days of his leadership of Australia, a country not known for its religious fervor. And that's what makes Morrison's faith all the more interesting. One would expect such devout beliefs in America, a country that Morrison greatly admires. But the land down under is a bit of a head scratcher. Founded as a penal colony for the United Kingdom, Australia had a rough and tumble beginning. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Morrison talks about his book "Plans For Your Good: A Prime Minister’s Testimony Of God’s Faithfulness." It's based on the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah's prescient words to the children of Israel, and to us, "'For I know the plans I have for you,' says the Lord. 'They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.'” In this political season, such comforts are words to cling to. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    37 mins
  • Founder of L.A. Dream Center: Transforming Lives, One God-Given Dream at a Time

    Founder of L.A. Dream Center: Transforming Lives, One God-Given Dream at a Time
    Jul 7 2024
    Back in the early 1990's Matthew Barnett thought he was headed to Los Angeles for a short-term mission trip at a small church. Thirty years later, he's still there, but the operation is much larger. The Los Angeles Dream Center is the result. A massive operation that includes a 400,000 square foot facility and a church, which serves the homeless, getting the drug addicted unaddicted and seeing in all people the image of God. But the sad news is, despite the center's successes, the city of Los Angeles and the state government hierarchy refuses to partner with them because they are faith-based. While the city of Los Angeles announced they would spend $1 billion on the problem of homelessness, the equivalent of an estimated $50,000 for each homeless person, Barnett says it costs the center $7,500 to rehabilitate someone out of drug addiction. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith, Barnett talks about the triumph of transforming lives when God is at the center of the process. He says they're not just ministering to people's needs; they're ministering to people's potential. God-given dreams give people hope that there's something greater to live for. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    35 mins
  • Sound of Hope: The Real Pastor and His Wife Share Their Story

    Sound of Hope: The Real Pastor and His Wife Share Their Story
    Jun 30 2024
    In 1996 Bishop W.C. Martin and his wife Donna Martin, from the small town of Possum Trot, Texas, adopted four children out of foster care. They inspired their entire congregation of Bennett Chappell Missionary Baptist Church to adopt every available child in the county's foster care system. Twenty-two families adopted all 77 children. Many of those children were some of the hardest to place; victims of sexual and physical abuse, neglect, trauma, and unsafe living situations. Thier story inspired the movie, "Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot." On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, the Martins talk about the movie and the extraordinary saga of their lives that can only be described as God working miracles. The adopting of children with deep emotional and physical needs put untold strains on church bmembers' families and their finances. But through it all their faith helped them triumph. The Holy Spirit, not the spirit of the age, is what brought about astonishing transformations in the lives of the children and the families. The Martins challenge other churches to do the same. Right now there are some 400,000 children in the foster care system in the United States and 100,000 available for adoption. The Martins say if every church committed to giving every available child a loving home, the numbers would be reduced to zero. Answering the call of Jesus to look after the orphans, the least of these, is true religion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    39 mins
  • An Evangelical Answers the Left's Question: How Can Followers of Jesus Support Donald Trump?

    An Evangelical Answers the Left's Question: How Can Followers of Jesus Support Donald Trump?
    Jun 23 2024
    Author Stephen Strang says it's hypocrisy that mainstream media on the left skewers Donald Trump's Evangelical supporters, asking the question, 'How can believers in Jesus Christ support a man known for his philandering?' Strang, who's also the founder of Charisma Media, says, "Did we hold Lyndon Baines Johnson or John Kennedy or Bill Clinton or a bunch of other people up to that high standard? I don't think so." On this episode of Lighthouse Faith, Strang, who's the author of "God And Donald Trump", and "Trump Aftershock: The President’s Seismic Impact On Faith And Culture", talks about Trump's legal woes, now that he's a convicted felon thanks to New York's District Attorney, and why Evangelicals still support him. He points out that when Trump was a New York billionaire Playboy, part of the social scene, attending Chelsea Clinton's wedding, for instance, he was the darling of the press. But when he got serious about life, protecting America's borders, joining the Republican Party, and getting serious about his faith, that's when the media turned on him. Strang is worried that many of the new Evangelicals are engaged in hero worship of Trump, but he says most of Trump's supporters are silent, wanting only the right choice for their communities and the country. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    41 mins
  • Should Christians Celebrate Pride Month? Ryan Bomberger and Doug Pagitt Debate

    Should Christians Celebrate Pride Month? Ryan Bomberger and Doug Pagitt Debate
    Jun 16 2024
    The cultural clash over the LGBTQ community has spilled over into the Christian Church. One blaring example now is the schism in the United Methodist Church. But on a personal level, Christians are asking and voicing their opinions over Pride Month, which celebrates the gay community. It forces Christians to deal with one blaring question, "Is homosexuality consistent with Christianity?" Is it a sin, and part of human brokenness, or is it not a sin, and something that should be praised and honored? On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, two Christians offer their opinions. Ryan Bomberger, author and co-founder of the Radiance Foundation, and Doug Pagitt, an author and pastor who's been leading the conversation on progressive Christianity through Vote Common Good. It's not often people of faith talk to each other in a reasoned and respectful way about this culturally divisive issue. But for people who are followers of Jesus Christ, it is essential, if there ever could be a realization of John 17, "May they all be one." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    56 mins
  • Duck Dynasty's Willie Robertson Is Living Out The Great Commission, One Conversation at a Time

    Duck Dynasty's Willie Robertson Is Living Out The Great Commission, One Conversation at a Time
    Jun 9 2024
    Willie Robertson is all about having a conversation... about Jesus. Robertson is a member of the famous Duck Dynasty clan whose reality show became one of the most popular ever. It was a program that might never have been until producers promised patriarch, Phil Robertson, they could talk openly about their faith in Jesus Christ. The show became known for the family's prayers at mealtime. Now Willie, Phil's son, has a new book out called "The Gospeler: Turning Darkness Into Light One Conversation At A Time." On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Robertson explains how believers in Jesus can live out The Great Commission (of spreading the Gospel) in everyday life situations. His own father's life was turned around after a preacher sought him out while in a bar. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    38 mins