Solid Steps Radio

“Spiritual practices allow us to crawl into the lap of our Father in heaven.” - 
Professor David Roadcup. Prayer. Bible reading. Those are spiritual practices that the majority of Christians acknowledge are important in spiritual formation. What are some others? How do we connect with God through different spiritual practices? On this weeks show professor and Pastor David Roadcup talks about the link between spiritual formation and spiritual practices.

When you hear the word “intimacy” what do you think about? 
Sex? Something private between 2 people? Would you say that you and your spouse have an “intimate relationship”? On this week’s show, Kurt and Chad welcome licensed counselors Don and Danna Delafield. They talk about God’s plan for intimacy in marriage, how it may differ from the world’s, and maybe even your own.

“Dead man walking!” A phrase commonly used by prison guards when a prisoner is making his way from the cell to their execution. A prisoner walking his final steps of life knows when it’s going to end, but we don’t know when we will take our last breath. But one man took his final breath before he died, and lived to tell about it. On this week’s show, Kurt and Chad talk to businessman Sherman Henderson. He shares his story of dying for 18 minutes, being brought back to life, being in a coma for 3 days and how it changed his perspective on living, and on dying. (This is a repeat program from October, 2019 - enjoy!)

Can you be an alcoholic and a Christian? On this week’s show recovering alcoholics John Jordan and Marc Davidson talk about their journey from functioning alcoholic to sober believer. Praise God, they are now dependent on a Savior and not a bottle.

A father leaves when his son is 1 month old. Then that boy attends 40 schools in 4 years - running from his stepfather’s decisions. Later, as an adult, after 12 years of a “perfect” marriage and a newborn son, his wife says she wants a divorce. He saw no hope in living, and was thinking of ending it all. And then he receives a phone call... On this week’s show, Brian Goul joins Kurt and Chad to discuss his journey. It starts off in a way that most couldn’t recover from, without an intervention - an invasion of love that transforms and sets him on a new trajectory. One that is not possible without Jesus. Brian’s story is one that is real and transformational, and available to anyone who looks in the direction of God. From a fateful and timely phone call, to a chance meeting in a unfamiliar church, God’s fingerprints are all over Brian’s story. (This is a repeat episode from August, 2019 - enjoy!)

Liminal – relating to a transitional or initial stage of a process, a threshold. Many men (and women) are content to live a life of the “seen”. What we see is what we need to be concerned about. But what about the “unseen”? Those things about us that we don’t see but help make who we are - our heart, our soul, our beliefs, even our wounds. On this weeks show, Kurt and Chad welcome Bill Weedman and Matt Robison to talk about their experience on their journey as men. Bill and Matt talk about going down the road of finding out why they do what they do, and what God wants to do in them, so they can love the people around them more deeply. Both are involved with a retreat experience called Liminal (https://liminalwork.com) “Liminal was created as a way for men to find out through groups, weekends, retreats and other experiential methods what it truly means to know freedom and live who the Creator originally intended us to be. Liminal guides men on their paths through curriculum, thoughtfully crafted experience

What if you were having coffee with a friend and he talked the entire time from the moment he sat down to the time he left? What would that relationship look like? On this week’s show, Kurt and Chad talk to author and attorney (1 of 14 attorneys in his family) Stephen Van Zant as he talks about his devotional “Heaven Calling” and what it means to have listening prayer, sitting in the presence of God in silence and listening for His voice. Spurred on by the book God Calling (written in the 1930’s by 2 poor women in England), which was put in his hands over 30 years ago when he didn’t walk with God, Stephen talks about what it sounds like to listen to God and how it can effect our life in how we love God and others.

It’s the 1970’s, you’re 15, you’re pregnant, and you live in a small town and attend a small church. What are your options? You decide to go to another state to have an abortion. Due to a “misunderstanding” the abortion is rescheduled for Mother’s Day weekend. On this weeks show, Bowin Tichenor talks about his brave mother’s decision to not abort him, and how God brought people into his life to show him he is loved by the Father and how God has a plan for every life.

The authorities enter the house, filled with 10 children from 3 different fathers, and a mother who struggles with mental illness. In the corner, is an little boy, barely clothed, malnourished, and all alone. After a few years of living in different foster homes, at age 6, he meets the people that become his family. But imagine this child growing up thinking and desiring just two things: hoping to find his birth parents and wanting to die. This week, Kurt and Chad welcome Bob Kegley. He talks about being neglected and abandoned as a child, but finding hope and life through the Father to the fatherless.

Lust. Pride. Greed. Envy. Gluttony. Wrath. Sloth. The seven deadly sins have been around over 1700 years - Evagrius Ponticus penned them in the 3rd century. What do they have to do with being a father? On this weeks show, Chad and Kurt talk with Kent Evans. Kent is an author and the founder of Manhood Journey. He and Ryan Sanders have written a book - 7 Deadly Sins of a Disengaged Dad - about how the seven deadly sins can creep their way into the father’s life if he’s not intentional. More importantly, what are the opposites of the seven deadly sins? (This is a repeat of a March 2018 episode - enjoy!)

On this week’s show, Kurt and Chad continue the conversation (from Episode #211) with Tony Cash. His wife and ministry partner Kim enters into the story that God is writing. She left a career she had built to join Tony on an adventure they wouldn’t have thought possible. The mission was simple, but difficult. “Our mission is to transform prisoners’ lives by mobilizing, training and coaching qualified workers to implement the fruitful practices of disciple-making movements inside the walls of the prison system as God prepares them for re-entry into society, teaching them to be fishers of men outside of incarceration.” Listen now to hear how God brought these two unlikely people together, and then sent them down the road to do more than they could ever imagine or hope for. In their efforts to fulfill the great commission, an ex-convict joined together with an abuser of alcohol. On paper, it’s a recipe for disaster, but in God’s hands it has become a work of art.

First cigarette at age 5. First marijuana at 7. First armed robbery at 11. This is a life destined for destruction, both for self and others. It’s impossible to have any hope. Or is it? On this week’s show, former prison inmate of 36 collective years , Tony Cash, talks about the road he was on for most of his life. A road that lead to 20 years in solitary confinement, but also lead to a wrestling match in prison that would change his eternal destiny.

Depression. Anxiety. More than 300 million people worldwide suffer from depression. But how many suffer in silence? We’re on the air this weekend talking to Men’s Minister Ronnie Cordrey about his battle with depression and how it’s a reality in men’s lives.

How intentional are you with life? That’s a broad question, but don’t we have a broad life? It’s hard to be intentional when we are being pulled in so many different directions, but maybe that’s why we’re being pulled in so many different directions, because of a lack of intentionality! And is the church any different than those outside of the church? On this week’s show, missionary and executive director of I-TEC ( https://www.itecusa.org/ ) Jaime Saint talks about how Christ followers are called to be intentional in 7 different areas, with the one life we’ve been given by God to be used for his glory and Kingdom work.

Haiti - a Fifth world nation. You’ve heard of Third World nations, but what is a fifth world country? It’s a country where every year is worse than the year before. That is the state of Haiti, a country with a long history of social, political, economic, and natural catastrophes. Many say that the nation is cursed. Is that possible? On this week’s show, missionary Chris Brumley and businessman David Heady Jr talk about their years working with the people of Haiti.

“Till death do us part.“ That is quite a commitment. Many people said something similar to that on their wedding day. A commitment that is made in front of God, friends and family. But what does commitment look like on a day-to-day basis in a marriage? On this week’s show, Kurt and Chad continue their conversation ( see previous podcast # 204 about the trust metric ) with marriage therapist Dr. Charles Tackett about what’s called the commitment metric. There are 7 items that help strengthen commitment in a marriage and they need to be done on a regular basis.

“Dead man walking!” A phrase commonly used by prison guards when a prisoner is making his way from the cell to their execution. A prisoner walking his final steps of life knows when it’s going to end, but we don’t know when we will take our last breath. But one man took his final breath before he died, and lived to tell about it. On this week’s show, Kurt and Chad talk to businessman Sherman Henderson. He shares his story of dying for 18 minutes, being brought back to life, being in a coma for 3 days and how it changed his perspective on living, and on dying.

“God transformed me into something I didn’t think was possible.” - Angus Walker. Addiction is something that touches nearly everyone. A family member, a friend, or someone you know has struggled with drug or alcohol addictions. It’s become epidemic throughout the country. Many programs are available to help people break the bondage of addiction, but no program will ever be able to help as much as a person, the person of Jesus. On this week's show, Kurt and Chad welcome Jeff Reynolds and Angus Walker of Awake ministries https://awakeky.org , a God centered approach to addiction to win the battle of addiction. Angus shares the incredible story of how God has been moving through his family, breaking the bondage of generational addiction and sin.

“Trust is the number one concern for newlyweds in the research data.”- Dr. Charles Tackett. On this weekend’s show, Solid Steps Radio celebrates being on air for 4 years with show favorite Dr. Charles Tackett. He talks about the trust metrics and how the 5 trust “ingredients” in a marriage can build up and help over the long haul. Taped in front of a live audience of 200 friends of the show, it was a fun event and includes a bonus segment especially for this podcast. Enjoy!

Men can run a company, complete complex projects, and accomplish challenging physical acts. When it comes to emotionally and relationally connecting with a child, however, it can be like speaking a foreign language. Not only is connecting with a child important, but being able to disciple them in the ways of God is even more crucial. On this week’s show, Manhood Journey founder and President Kent Evans talks about his new project - Father on Purpose (http://fatheronpurpose.org) They are partnering with Dads and providing resources to help them talk about the things of God in a way that is purposeful and intentional.