The Catholics call her the Mother of God. In protest, the Protestants ignore her. Mary, mother of Jesus. Who is she? What kind of woman did God choose to bear the Messiah? Was she really perfect, without sin? In this series, Dr. Betters gives the listener not only the historical context of Mary’s life, but challenges all to learn from the life lessons this woman has for each of us.
Read MoreIn this scripture-packed series, Dr. Betters discusses regeneration, effectual calling, conversion, justification, adoption, sanctification, perseverance and glorification. Come along on this journey and find great joy in discovering many treasures in your journey along your spiritual birthline. Peter’s spiritual journey is a clear picture of a man intrigued by the Messiah, but not converted. In this message we watch as God removes Peter’s spiritual blindness. Peter’s journey helps us see our own spiritual birthlines unfold.
Read MoreThousands of families quietly and lovingly care for children with special needs. Though the days are often long and hard, many find joy in their calling and would not trade their calling for anything. Kara Dedert and her family reflect this joy in the ordinary and extraordinary moments of caring for their son and brother, Calvin. In her introduction to her blog, Kara writes, “You’ll find me writing about the good, gritty, gracy parts of faith, family and home. I’m married to Darryl and we have five kids. One of our sons has severe disabilities from Zika. It’s broken our hearts and also filled us with hope – I write about that, too.
We’re grateful for Kara’s willingness to not only write about her journey, but to talk with Sharon Betters about the everyday struggles and joys of caring for Calvin and how his life has drawn his entire family deeper into the heart of Jesus.
Connect with Kara at karadedert.com
Read MoreThe Catholics call her the Mother of God. In protest, the Protestants ignore her. Mary, mother of Jesus. Who is she? What kind of woman did God choose to bear the Messiah? Was she really perfect, without sin? In this series, Dr. Betters gives the listener not only the historical context of Mary’s life, but challenges all to learn from the life lessons this woman has for each of us.
Read MoreIn this scripture-packed series, Dr. Betters discusses regeneration, effectual calling, conversion, justification, adoption, sanctification, perseverance and glorification. Come along on this journey and find great joy in discovering many treasures in your journey along your spiritual birthline. Peter’s spiritual journey is a clear picture of a man intrigued by the Messiah, but not converted. In this message we watch as God removes Peter’s spiritual blindness. Peter’s journey helps us see our own spiritual birthlines unfold.
Read MoreWhen forgiveness feels impossible!
“I forgive you.” Simple words, and liberating ones – but hard, too. You may think the betrayal you have experienced is in the realm of the unforgivable. Wendy Alsup understands. She experienced severe church conflict while serving in the women’s ministry at Mars Hill Church, followed by an unwanted divorce. The losses of betrayal eventually forced her to move from her home in Seattle, leaving behind deep friendships and everything familiar to her two sons. Her understanding of forgiveness did not come easily for her so she does not sugarcoat the struggles she experienced.
In this special Help & Hope Podcast, Wendy joins us for our summer Beyond the Book – Ask the Author series. Invited guests submitted questions for Wendy, and her answers reveal deep wisdom and understanding for those struggling with the concept of forgiveness. Some of the questions Wendy answers:
· How do you get past the astonishment, hurt, and dislike for a person you cared for, had a relationship with, and enjoyed when they have repeatedly turned against you?
· How do you "move on" in forgiveness when you still have to interact with people who hurt you?
· After you left Mars Hill, lots of your friends stayed. Did you pursue them to tell them your story, your reasons for leaving in an attempt to get them to leave, too? How do you let go of the need to protect your reputation or do you?
· When someone asks you to forgive them for an offense, does it mean that you will never bring up the offense again?
· Through conflict our church leadership mishandled, a lot of friends and I lost our strong church family – none of us feels as though we will ever find such a loving community again. How do you venture back into church life when you feel so cynical?
· How does understanding ambiguous loss help us better understand our own grief over broken relationships, especially when we are powerless to effect any change in the circumstances?
· And many more.
Listen and please pass on this important conversation.
You can also listen to these Help & Hope podcasts with Wendy:
Companionship in Suffering – Wendy Alsup
Read MoreThe Catholics call her the Mother of God. In protest, the Protestants ignore her. Mary, mother of Jesus. Who is she? What kind of woman did God choose to bear the Messiah? Was she really perfect, without sin? In this series, Dr. Betters gives the listener not only the historical context of Mary’s life, but challenges all to learn from the life lessons this woman has for each of us.
Read MoreIn this scripture-packed series, Dr. Betters discusses regeneration, effectual calling, conversion, justification, adoption, sanctification, perseverance and glorification. Come along on this journey and find great joy in discovering many treasures in your journey along your spiritual birthline. Peter’s spiritual journey is a clear picture of a man intrigued by the Messiah, but not converted. In this message we watch as God removes Peter’s spiritual blindness. Peter’s journey helps us see our own spiritual birthlines unfold.
Read MoreWell meaning people sometimes exhort adopted children to be thankful for the many privileges they have as a result of having a “forever family.” This resource encourages that gratitude, but also acknowledges coexisting with a grateful heart is often a broken heart, a result of feeling abandoned by their birth parents. In keeping with our goal to produce and distribute resources that address life crises that are difficult to discuss, as well as how to help those experiencing them, we are grateful to offer this compelling interview that is designed to equip adoptive parents and adopted children to better understand the “primal wound” that some adopted children experience. In this candid interview, Dan and Laura Betters share their thoughts and plans for helping their adopted daughter process the grief and disappointment she might experience as she better understands adoption. Lisa Adams-Reese, a seasoned adoptive mother and woman who helps place adopted children with their families, offers her own experiences and wisdom that will free parents to intentionally develop an honest, safe place for their children to express any sorrow, anxiety, or feelings of abandonment. We know you will be encouraged and inspired by their stories.
Read MoreIn this scripture-packed series, Dr. Betters discusses regeneration, effectual calling, conversion, justification, adoption, sanctification, perseverance and glorification. Come along on this journey and find great joy in discovering many treasures in your journey along your spiritual birthline. Peter’s spiritual journey is a clear picture of a man intrigued by the Messiah, but not converted. In this message we watch as God removes Peter’s spiritual blindness. Peter’s journey helps us see our own spiritual birthlines unfold.
Read MoreOn average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. During one year, this equates to more than 10 million women and men. About 2 in 4 women have experienced some form of physical violence by an intimate partner. This includes a range of behaviors (e.g. slapping, shoving, pushing) and in some cases might not be considered "domestic violence." These statistics do not include abuse of men. These are just a few of domestic abuse statistics on the National Statistics Domestic Violence website. Many more people do not report abuse. If these stats are true, it’s likely 1 in 4 women sitting in our church pews have experienced severe physical violence. Sadly, the place where wounded women should feel safest – the church – is the one place they are too ashamed to be transparent. In this informative but at times disturbing interview, Darby Strickland draws from years of not only studying the impact of abuse but her interaction through counseling abused women. Darby is passionate about equipping local churches to be a safe place for the abused. To go deeper, you can order her newest book: Is it Abuse? A Biblical Guide to Identifying Domestic Abuse and Helping Victims
Read MoreIn this scripture-packed series, Dr. Betters discusses regeneration, effectual calling, conversion, justification, adoption, sanctification, perseverance and glorification. Come along on this journey and find great joy in discovering many treasures in your journey along your spiritual birthline. Peter’s spiritual journey is a clear picture of a man intrigued by the Messiah, but not converted. In this message we watch as God removes Peter’s spiritual blindness. Peter’s journey helps us see our own spiritual birthlines unfold.
Read MoreSome stats state that 50% of married couples in churches have experienced sexual betrayal in their marriage. When a wife learns about her husband’s sexual betrayal, in the blink of an eye, a bomb detonates and blows up her marriage. The very foundations on which she built her home shatter and she can barely breathe, let alone find her way out from under the rubble. Ellen Dykas has walked with hundreds, maybe even thousands of women as they have struggled with sexual betrayal and offers hope from years of helping these hurting women. In this conversation with co-hosts Sharon Betters and Jane Anne Wilson, Ellen’s tender heart and passion for offering hope to women whose husbands have betrayed them flows. She encourages listeners to know they are not responsible for their husband’s sins, and that they do not carry shame. She is particularly concerned that they understand the need for self-care. This topic is too deep for a half-hour conversation so we hope, whether you are fresh in facing sexual betrayal or have secretly carried the devastation for years you will get Ellen’s FREE books: Jesus and Your Unwanted Journey: Wives Finding Comfort After Sexual Betrayal. One is a participant’s guide and the other is a Leader’s Guide. These resources are for women who need help applying the gospel to their marriage in response their husband’s sexual sin. But they are also for those who love them and want to help. You may never have experienced sexual betrayal in your marriage. This conversation will equip you to walk with a friend who has. These books are resources for you and your friend.
Read MoreIn this scripture-packed series, Dr. Betters discusses regeneration, effectual calling, conversion, justification, adoption, sanctification, perseverance and glorification. Come along on this journey and find great joy in discovering many treasures in your journey along your spiritual birthline. Peter’s spiritual journey is a clear picture of a man intrigued by the Messiah, but not converted. In this message we watch as God removes Peter’s spiritual blindness. Peter’s journey helps us see our own spiritual birthlines unfold.
Read MoreImagine you have one child, a beautiful daughter whose life reflects her deep love for Jesus. You and your wife work for a Christian organization, offering the help and hope of the Gospel, seeing every day as an opportunity to encourage and love others. And then you get that phone call that is every parent’s nightmare. Your only child, 17 years old, has been in a fatal car accident. Fast forward twenty years and your wife gets a diagnosis that not only will take her life but turn her last years into a place of great anguish. How would you respond? Ellis Goldstein had to answer these questions, the most recent, when he learned his wife’s diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, better known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. This thoughtful conversation between two men who share the grief of losing a child will challenge listeners with their responses to grief and Ellis’ response to the illness and death of his beloved Colleen.
Read MoreIn this scripture-packed series, Dr. Betters discusses regeneration, effectual calling, conversion, justification, adoption, sanctification, perseverance and glorification. Come along on this journey and find great joy in discovering many treasures in your journey along your spiritual birthline. Peter’s spiritual journey is a clear picture of a man intrigued by the Messiah, but not converted. In this message we watch as God removes Peter’s spiritual blindness. Peter’s journey helps us see our own spiritual birthlines unfold.
Read MoreIn this scripture-packed series, Dr. Betters discusses regeneration, effectual calling, conversion, justification, adoption, sanctification, perseverance and glorification. Come along on this journey and find great joy in discovering many treasures in your journey along your spiritual birthline. Peter’s spiritual journey is a clear picture of a man intrigued by the Messiah, but not converted. In this message we watch as God removes Peter’s spiritual blindness. Peter’s journey helps us see our own spiritual birthlines unfold.
Read MoreEach year about 50,000 children die in the United States. While a profound loss for parents, what about their siblings? Doug MacCray, was eleven years old when he lost his sixteen-year-old brother, Ricky. How does an eleven-year-old grieve? How is the grief journey of a sibling different than the grief journey of parents? In this sometimes emotional conversation, Doug shares with Dr. Chuck F. Betters some of the ways his brother’s death affected him and how grief for a child is different than the grief of an adult. It’s our hope that Doug’s story will help parents understand the grief of their children a little better and also encourage those who have lost siblings at a young age.
Read MoreIn this scripture-packed series, Dr. Betters discusses regeneration, effectual calling, conversion, justification, adoption, sanctification, perseverance and glorification. Come along on this journey and find great joy in discovering many treasures in your journey along your spiritual birthline. Peter’s spiritual journey is a clear picture of a man intrigued by the Messiah, but not converted. In this message we watch as God removes Peter’s spiritual blindness. Peter’s journey helps us see our own spiritual birthlines unfold.
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