At the Frontier

There's a lot of focus, and rightfully so, on decreasing homelessness in the U.S. It's a complex issue that deserves our attention more than ever. But it's important to remember that when you dig beneath all of the data and all of the policies and all of the ambitious housing projects, you find real human stories. And you see that a lot of people who experience homelessness at some point in their lives are our neighbors, friends, coworkers, and family members. And many of them, given the chance, go on to transform their lives and do incredible things.

That's what this episode is all about. Today, we're talking with someone who fits that description to a tee, Morgane Dussault. Morgane is The Salvation Army's Corporate Engagement Director in the Golden State Division.

She grew up in Chico, California, with dreams of studying international business at Pepperdine University. But her path changed one night at a high school party when she tried hard drugs. Six months later, she dropped out of school. For the next 15 years, Morgane struggled with addiction. She found herself homeless with nowhere to turn.

Then one day in jail, a fellow inmate told her, "If you want to change your life and you're serious about it, then you need to go to The Salvation Army."

So she did.

And today, Morgane says all of the struggles shaped her into someone inspired and committed to making a difference for others. She's on the show today to share more of her incredible story with us and you have to hear it from her.

EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more.

BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series.

WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz.

STUDY SCRIPTURE. Get inside the collection.

BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram.

FIGHT FOR GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.

More than 400,000 people were homeless last year. That's a record high, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness.

To put that number in perspective, that's roughly enough people to fill Michigan Stadium, the largest stadium in the U.S., not once but four times.

And many experts agree even that figure might be an undercount.

Despite pouring billions of dollars into shelter beds and support services, cities across the country are struggling to keep up with the demand.

That's especially true on the West Coast, where encampments are ubiquitous and housing costs continue to skyrocket. In the Greater LA area, which, according to some experts, has become Ground Zero for homelessness, several new projects are taking aim at the issue.

The Salvation Army recently launched two.

In these new projects, and the existing ones across Southern California, the goal is to help end chronic homelessness in the community and transform the lives of those who come in.

As we begin our series exploring the state of homelessness, Lt. Colonel Mike Dickinson, Divisional Commander for The Salvation Army in Southern California, is here today to tell us more about what The Salvation Army is doing to chip away at the crisis, and why.

EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more.

BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series.

WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz.

STUDY SCRIPTURE. Get inside the collection.

BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram.

FIGHT FOR GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.

Have you ever wondered what your purpose in life is, especially when everyone around you seems to be living their best life?

Ciara Laine Myers has.

For a long time, Ciara felt like an imposter in her own home and began to think something was wrong with her. She felt trapped in her own world, overanalyzing and critiquing everything she was doing.

Can you relate?

If so, Ciara's new book, "Glasses Off: Seeking God When Your Vision Is Gone," is for you.

An author and award-winning business owner, Ciara shares in her new book her struggles to believe that God made her for a specific purpose. But it's a fresh take on the subject that will encourage you to shift your focus and seek God to find your purpose.

Ciara, it turns out, is just like you and me: a beautifully complicated, multi-faceted human.

And she's here today to share the first chapter from her book, "Glasses Off."

EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more.

BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series.

WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz.

STUDY SCRIPTURE. Get inside the collection.

BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram.

FIGHT FOR GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.

Each new year brings us a chance to reset. To review and reflect on our time, our dreams and our plans for the days ahead. It's a natural turning of the page. The opening of a new chapter.

I love this verse, from Galatians 6:4-5 (MSG): "Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don't compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life."

It might not be New Year's Day, but it is still the new year so let me ask: Are you doing the creative best you can with your own life?

This episode is somewhat of a guided journal session for you to take inventory, reflect and look ahead.

Grab a pen and paper, heat up some tea, light a candle—you know, give it a vibe—and take a few moments to reset.

EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more.

BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series.

WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz.

STUDY SCRIPTURE. Get inside the collection.

BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram.

FIGHT FOR GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.

What is so amazing about grace?

That's the question author Philip Yancey started with when he wrote the book by that title, What's So Amazing About Grace, published in 1997.

It went on to sell over 2 million copies.

And now, 25 years later, Philip Yancey has released a revised version—updated for the modern day.

As the author of 13 Gold Medallion Award-winning books and two ECPA Book of the Year awards, including for What's So Amazing About Grace, Philip will tell you some things never change.

As he writes, "Grace is the church's great distinctive. It's the one thing the world cannot duplicate, and the one thing it craves above all else—for only grace can bring hope and transformation to a jaded world."

What does it look like in action?

Grace does not excuse sin, he says, but it treasures the sinner. True grace is shocking, scandalous. It shakes our conventions with its insistence on getting close to sinners and touching them with mercy and hope.

How can Christians contend graciously with moral issues that threaten all they hold dear?

And how can we become living answers to a world that desperately wants to know, What's So Amazing About Grace? And could use a whole lot more of it.

EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more.

BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series.

WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz.

STUDY SCRIPTURE. Get inside the collection.

BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram.

FIGHT FOR GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.

Happy New Year!

It's a whole new year and you could say much of the excitement and buzz of this turning of the calendar is concentrated right now in Pasadena, California, for the Tournament of Roses Rose Parade—America's New Year Celebration.

For millions of people around the world, the Rose Parade is an iconic New Year's Day tradition as floral-decorated floats, equestrian units, bands and other Tournament Entries travel some 5-and-a-half miles down Colorado Blvd.

This year, 2024, marks the 135th Rose Parade and for more than a century, The Salvation Army has taken to the streets on New Year's Day to march in the Rose Parade.

In fact, it is the longest continual band to participate in the parade, having marched consecutively since 1920.

It's made up of some 180 Salvation Army musicians and timbrelists from around Southern California and across the country and this year includes a special guest Salvation Army band ensemble from Bromley, England.

And those involved know it's one day The Salvation Army reaches millions on TV with song titles like "Amazing Grace" or "Stand up for Jesus" displayed right there on everyone's screen.

Leading the charge again this year as Bandmaster and here to share more about the experience with us is Kevin Larsson, Creative Development Director for the Music Department in The Salvation Army Western Territory.

Alongside him, Jim Sparks is a Salvationist from Pasadena and is believed to be the longest-running marcher this year as he joins in his 29th Rose Parade.

They're giving us the behind the scenes today, what you don't necessarily see on TV and why they love being part of this longstanding tradition.

EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more.

BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series.

WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz.

STUDY SCRIPTURE. Get inside the collection.

BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram.

FIGHT FOR GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.

Merry Christmas!

What a day to celebrate, born is the King.

Today, Christmas Day, I would love to read you the Christmas story and share a Christmas message from Commissioner Doug Riley. Hopefully, this can be something to play while you're cleaning up Christmas breakfast or getting dressed for Christmas dinner as a quiet few moments for you to reflect on the significance of this day.

Born is the King.

EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more.

BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series.

WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz.

STUDY SCRIPTURE. Get inside the collection.

BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram.

FIGHT FOR GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.

No matter how dark the season is, "By God's abounding grace, Christmas still arrives every year—somehow or other, it comes just the same…to direct our hearts and minds to the story of Christ and his people—and to place our lives and communities within this sacred narrative."

These are the words of Dr. Emily Hunter McGowin from her new book, "Christmas: The Season of Life and Light."

Dr. McGowin is associate professor of theology at Wheaton College, and co-pastors with her husband in the Anglican church.

Her new book is part of a series from InterVarsity Press about important dates in the Christian calendar. And I'd say she got the fun assignment: Christmas. Or rather, Christmastide—the 12 days of celebration from Christmas to Epiphany.

It's a reflection on the moods, themes, rituals, prayers and Scriptures that mark Christmastide. A resource to help us live fully into both the theology and spiritual practices of the season—one of deep magic.

Because, as she writes, "At the center of the mystery of Christmas is the astonishing fact that God has come to dwell with us."

Some might question the commercialism of Christmas, and yes discernment is key, but as Dr. McGowin would say, God is in the celebration, too. She writes, "God's loving embrace extends to our particulars—noses and toes, meals and gifts, decorations and gift-giving."

The season of life and light. Of timeless beauty.

EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more.

BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series.

WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz.

STUDY SCRIPTURE. Get inside the collection.

BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram.

FIGHT FOR GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.

Before you jump into this episode, I have an invitation for you. Join the Caring X Grace Winter Book Club and shift how you embody grace in your everyday life.

We are reading the revised and updated edition of What’s So Amazing About Grace? A Journey to Transformation and Compassion with bestselling author Philip Yancey—who you are about to hear from in this episode.

Today is the official kickoff of the winter book club so join now at caringmagazine.org/grace.

A "Whole Lotta Little" is one of the songs on Emily Ann Roberts' new country album, Can't Hide Country.

A 2015 finalist on NBC's The Voice as a member of team Blake Shelton, Emily Ann went on to release her first single, "Stuck on Me and You" in 2018 and now has released her debut album just ahead of going on tour with Blake Shelton in early 2024.

When she's not singing, Emily Ann loves the "old time things," as she would call them, things like cooking and crocheting.

Which is why she calls herself the "Yeehaw Meemaw."

And now she's turned those needlework skills for good.

Emily Ann hand-crocheted a gorgeous throw blanket and is giving it away this holiday season alongside The Salvation Army. Anyone who donates to The Salvation Army through her virtual Red Kettle through December 31 will be entered to win with a winner drawn this New Year's Day.

Of course, each donation goes directly to The Salvation Army to help bring joy and relief to families who need it this season and all year long.

We're talking with Emily Ann today about what inspires her to do good whenever she can and how you can spread a "whole lotta little" goodness too.

EPISODE SHOWNOTES: Read more.

BE AFFIRMED. Get the Good Words email series.

WHAT'S YOUR CAUSE? Take our quiz.

STUDY SCRIPTURE. Get inside the collection.

BE INSPIRED. Follow us on Instagram.

FIGHT FOR GOOD. Give to The Salvation Army.