Crossmap Podcast

In a music career that has spanned more than 35 years, Steven Curtis Chapman is the most awarded artist in Christian music history. His musical resume is quite staggering and highly notable:

• 59 Gospel Music Association (GMA) Dove Awards
• 5 Grammy Awards
• 1 American Music Award
• 49 No. 1 singles
• 11 Million Album Sales
• 10 Gold and Platinum Albums


Yet for all his unbridled success, Chapman found himself struggling while creating his latest album.  Rather than experiencing the confidence that this new music would speak to the hearts of millions, he instead found himself asking the question, “Can I really do this again?" “Do people even really care about my music anymore?"

Despite Chapman’s well earned reputation as an elder statesman and legendary figure in Christian music, he pondered whether this was the end for him. He wondered whether people even wanted to hear anything new from him. And secondly, were they satisfied with listening only to the hits.

Ultimately, Chapman made the decision to just sit down with his guitar and write and record whatever was stirring in his soul. These songs ultimately became his latest album, “Still", a recording that is deeply introspective and revealing of a true artist’s heart.

Chapman joins us on the Crossmap Podcast to talk about why in some ways he recorded “Still" to remember where he has been and where he is going. Listen as he shares what it’s like going from exuberant newcomer to elder statesman in the short span of 35 years. Plus, he details how God can use anybody for His purposes in any season. You need only to be willing.

Links to Steven Curtis Chapman

• Website
• YouTube
• Apple Music
• Spotify

Links to Crossmap

• Crossmap Website
• Crossmap Facebook

Oh no, not I, I will survive

Oh, as long as I know how to love, I know I'll stay alive

I've got all my life to live

And I've got all my love to give and I'll survive

I will survive, hey, hey

Sound familiar? The aforementioned song lyrics serve as the chorus for a song that has become synonymous with finding strength, perseverance, and the ability to move forward despite a past that is sometimes unforgiving. 

That highly popular tune is “I Will Survive”, a song that has literally defined the career of Gloria Gaynor. The 1978 single topped Billboard’s disco and pop charts, went platinum, and won Best Disco Recording the only year the Grammy’s recognized the sub-genre.

Despite achieving global stardom for this song, Gaynor has forged a career of nearly 50 years and has subsequently delivered hit songs on the charts in four consecutive decades.

Now 79 years old, Gaynor has recently added actress to her accolade-filled resume. She currently stars in a faith-based Christmas movie from Pure Flix called “The Thursday Night Club”. It’s a film about a group of friends who listen to God’s calling to serve others in unique ways. 

Gaynor joins us on the Crossmap Podcast to talk about her recent stint playing a wise doctor in the aforementioned holiday movie. Listen as she shares why it is important to listen for God’s calling, especially when His purpose is to serve others in caring and compassionate ways.

Links to Gloria Gaynor

• Gloria's Website
• Gloria on YouTube

Links to Crossmap

• Crossmap Website
• Crossmap Facebook

When I was a teenager, one of my best friends was in a horrific car wreck. With numerous life-threatening injuries, medical professionals at our local hospital didn’t think he would make it through the night. He had lost just too much blood and one of his major organs had been severely damaged. 

But miraculously, he made it through the night … and then a second night, and then a third. Soon days became weeks and eventually a release from the hospital and back to normal life about a month later.

My friend was a living miracle. While many in our town pointed to medical science and precision care as the reason for his survival, his family held tightly to their belief that he survived due to the power of prayer. Nothing more, nothing less.

Author Mike Kinney has a similar story but with a twist. At 17-years-old, his truck slammed into a telephone pole and burst into flames. Moments before the flames consumed his truck, he was pulled from the twisted metal wreckage by a friend … and a mysterious stranger. 

It was in this miracle that Kinney discovered the power of God’s presence and a new calling on his life. Now, he is telling his story of agony, miracles, and rebirth in his new book, “Out of the Fire: How an Angel and Stranger Intervened to Save a Life”.

Mike Kinney and my friend are living proof that God still performs miracles. And each of these guys will be the first to tell you that they would not be here without the love, support, and most importantly the prayers that delivered them from death.

Kinney joins us on the Crossmap Podcast to talk about how it was through this accident that he really discovered God’s purpose for his life. Listen as he shares how his story demonstrates how God can move one life to spread His message and love to millions of others.

Links to Crossmap

• Crossmap Website
• Crossmap Facebook

Millennials. A generation of individuals where everyone gets a trophy.
 
Beyond being the generation following Generation X and preceding Generation Z, this collection of twenty and thirty-somethings have been described as the first global generation that grew up in the Internet age. The end result is a generation of digital natives who are completely comfortable with mobile devices, social media, and living life online.
 
With that comes the traits of confidence and tolerance, but also a sense of entitlement and an increase in narcissism.
 
While these sentiments may be true on some level, do not discount the efforts of those born between the early 1980s and mid-1990s, to make this world a better place somehow, someway.
 
This is never more evident than a group of young adults who call themselves Sons & Daughters. Featuring the adult children and spouses of evangelists John and Lisa Bevere, this collective has dedicated their lives to helping this generation discover the adventure, freedom, and purpose found in our creator. That starts by cultivating relationships, leading in our communities, and developing the “sons and daughters" around us.
 
The youngest member of Sons & Daughters, Arden Bevere, joins us on the Crossmap Podcast to talk about the concept of God first and then us in relation to our current culture. Listen as he shares why in today’s selfie-obsessed world, so many people seem to be idols to self but then so unsure about who they really are. He points out there is a very simple solution to this problem and that it is closer than you think.

Links to Crossmap

• Crossmap Website
• Crossmap Facebook

Uncertainty. It’s a feeling that most of us have experienced at some point in time but would rather run in the other direction than be trapped in a groundswell of not knowing what to do.

Due to the global pandemic that has affected every nook and cranny of our lives the last two and a half years, many were left feeling highly uncertain. With no guarantee of an ordinary tomorrow, most, if not all of us were left to process through what this brave new world of quarantines, protective face masks, and vaccinations had to offer. Quite simply, the future looked highly uncertain.

For the Newsboys, 2020 left them with a choice. In the midst of safer-at-home orders, racial and political unrest, and a virus that left the entire world in a state of uncertainty, this musical quartet eventually arrived at a question: Where do you stand?

Answering this question meant figuring out who they were with certainty and what they believed in. The end result is a new album that is one of most thoughtfully-crafted releases of their 34 year existence.
 
Called “Stand: Deluxe", the new record features the lead single “Magnetic", as well as other notable tracks “Ain’t That Like Jesus" and “Blessings on Blessings".

Band members Michael Tait and Jeff Frankenstein join us on the Crossmap Podcast to talk about how in many ways COVID-19 was a positive, in that it forced them to slow down and evaluate where they had been over the last decade plus and where they wanted to go. Listen as they share why the benefit of having more time to record allowed them to craft an album with better musicianship and ultimately more meaningful lyrics.

Links to Newsboys

• Website
• YouTube
• Instagram

Links to Crossmap

• Crossmap Website
• Crossmap Facebook

If we are all being honest, we have all had a moment or two where we felt a little less than adequate in our faith.

Perhaps you were less than kind to someone in your small group. Or maybe you just flat out don’t like somebody or a situation at your church and you’re not afraid to let everyone know about it.

We know that as believers our lives are supposed to reflect Jesus. But let’s be honest, there are some days where we just don’t want to do that. We could care less about ’making our light shine.’

Does that make us a crappy Christian? Well … no.

Author and podcaster Blake Guichet believes that we all need to embrace the truth and realize that we can’t do it all perfectly and be ideal Christians. She says that through wisdom, good guidance, and plain old hope, we can move from being a “crappy" Christian to someone who develops a freer and fuller walk with Christ.

In her latest book, “Confessions of a Crappy Christian", Guichet offers an honest and transparent approach to navigating the thoughts and feelings we aren’t so sure about from our inner monologue. And she helps us discover why God cares so much about us, despite our wrinkles and warts.

Guichet joins us on the Crossmap Podcast to talk about why Christians are so burned out and unsure of where to turn for sound Biblical advice that will help them with their everyday struggles. Listen as she shares advice for those who have been hurt by the church and subsequently given up on it. Also, is there a fool-proof cure for those afflicted with being a crappy Christian? Find out and much, much more on this episode.

Links to Blake Guichet

• Pre-Order "Confessions of a Crappy Christian"
• Crappy Christian Podcast
• Blake on Instagram
• Blake on Facebook

Links to Crossmap

• Crossmap Website
• Crossmap Facebook

Have you ever been around someone where you thought to yourself, this person is brilliant? They just exude the ability to win you over with their wealth of knowledge in a given area, but even more engaging is that they present themselves in such a manner that you are not threatened by them in the least. It’s their winning personality that draws you in but it is their intellect that leaves you hanging on every last word they say.

Joel C. Rosenberg has developed a reputation over the years not only for his keen sense of intelligence, but for his uncanny ability to predict and create scenarios for world events before they happen. For example consider the description for his first novel, “The Last Jihad", literally published within days of the horrific events of 9/11.

Nothing has prepared Jon or Erin for the terror that lies ahead.

• Terrorists hijack a jet plane and fly a kamikaze mission into an American city
• Israeli commandos foil a nuclear attack but find evidence that the next targets could be Washington and New York
• And suddenly the United States finds itself in a war in the Middle East over terrorism and weapons of mass destruction that forever changes the course of human history 

Let’s be clear. This eerily prophetic novel predicted an attack on the U.S. and the war in Iraq . . . but was written before any of it happened.

His latest endeavor is hosting a new weekly news commentary program called The Rosenberg Report. Airing on Thursday nights at 9pm, this program offers a close-up view of current events and issues across Israel and the Middle East as he brings important insights and Biblical perspective that proves to be both informative and encouraging.

Rosenberg joins us on the Crossmap Podcast to talk about why he chose to host a television program after being the guest for more than two decades. Listen as he shares why he is so passionate about the events of the Middle East and why he has chosen to have a front row seat to watching the world unfold in regard to End Times prophecy.

Links to Joel C. Rosenberg

• Joel's Website
• The Last Jihad Series
• The Rosenberg Report

Links to Crossmap

• Crossmap Website
• Crossmap Facebook

It seems like the more things change the more they stay the same.

Racially-motivated events of the 1960s that for so many decades appeared to be isolated to that era never really went away. That has never been more apparent than the last five to ten years where civil unrest has become a focal point, driven by the highly-justified Black Lives Matter movement.

With that said, any dialogue that is designed and constructed to unite rather than divide is always welcome. And a powerful and timely new biopic about a former racist firefighter-turned-pastor in the height of the 1960s Civil Right movement serves just that purpose.
The name Paul Holderfield Sr. may not be a household name but his message of racial harmony is a story that needs to be told.
 
A new movie called “Paul’s Promise" chronicles Holderfield’s life. In the 1950s, during the Little Rock Central High School crisis, Holderfield was a local fireman and remembers turning his back on a black man, hoping he would not recognize him. But he did. Even worse, it was his childhood best friend who approached him for a handshake. But Holderfield refused to shake his hand and ultimately turned his back on him.
 
Holderfield was later convicted by his actions, in an event that would change his life forever. In that unforgettable moment, he ultimately decided there and then that he would never treat a human being that way again. This led to Holderfield founding Friendly Chapel and FLAME (Feeding and Loving All Men Equally), spending the rest of his life giving back to anyone in need, especially those afflicted by racial inequality.

Actor Ryan O’Quinn, who portrays Holderfield in “Paul’s Promise”, joins us on the Crossmap Podcast to talk about whether today’s racial challenges are unique to this generation or whether they mirror what was happening during the 1960s. Listen as he shares why he is so passionate about this critical topic and how it was so important for this to be the first movie produced by his production company, Damascus Road Productions.

Links to Ryan O’Quinn

• Paul's Promise - Movie Website
• Ryan O'Quinn Website
• Ryan on YouTube
• Ryan on Facebook
• Ryan on Twitter

Links to Crossmap

• Crossmap Website
• Crossmap Facebook

I think we have all heard the time-tested adage, “Some things just get better with age." The mind begins to run wild when you think of all the possibilities that fit this phrase:

• Love
• Cheddar Cheese
• Self-Confidence
• Cast Iron Skillets

My Guest Today

Pat Boone is a legendary American singer, composer, actor, writer, and spokesperson whose career has spanned seven decades. A number one pop singer in the U.S. during the 1950s and 1960s, he has sold more than 45 million records that includes six number one hits. Oh, did we mention that he has also appeared in more than 15 Hollywood films?

At the tender age of 88, Pat continues to act in movies. In fact, just last week he won the Best Supporting Actor award at the Canadian International Faith & Film Festival for his portrayal of the Old Coach in a movie called “The Mulligan".

But wait … there’s more! He has just published his 27th book called “If". It seems like there is nothing that will slow this man down.

Pat Boone joins us on the Crossmap Podcast to share about what golf means to him, and how the power of second chances has affected his life. Listen as he shares how God has guided his life’s journey and how that message serves as the foundation of his latest book, “If”.  And if that is not enough, we will even reminisce about the night Pat introduced hard-rock pioneers Stryper at the 1986 Dove Awards!

Links to Pat Boone

• YouTube
• Instagram
• Twitter
• Facebook

Links to Crossmap

• Crossmap Website
• Crossmap Facebook

For those who saw this summer’s movie hit “Elvis”, one quickly realizes that the entertainer known as ‘The King of Rock and Roll’ had many demons in his life. Fame, fortune, and bad influences fueled a persona of Elvis Presley that was sometimes chaotic, drug addled, and filled with eccentricities.

But the Elvis our guest Billy Stanley knew was quite different from the one the world came to love and adore for his rich, baritone voice, provocative stage presence, and a seemingly endless string of musical hits (149 to be exact).

After his mother married Elvis’ father in 1960, Billy arrived at Graceland as a wide-eyed seven year old, not quite sure what to make of his new surroundings and a brother inlaw who was the most famous person in the world. What he found might surprise you.

From the first time he received a bear hug from Elvis to the last conversation they ever had, there was always one constant: the King of Rock and Roll had a passion for sharing God’s love with as many people as he could.

In his new book, “The Faith of Elvis: A Story Only a Brother Can Tell”, Billy walks readers through Elvis’s Christian journey – from the notes he made in his worn and well-read Bible, to an insightful look into how he wove faith into every part of his life, as well as touching family stories about the person the world and pop culture never knew.

Billy joins us on the Crossmap Podcast to share details about Elvis’ faith and beliefs about God. Listen as he shares why he thinks Elvis gave too much of himself to the world without focusing enough on his faith and family, and what the King of Rock and Roll taught him about faith that Billy still carries with him today.

Links to Bill Stanley

• The Faith of Elvis: A Story Only a Brother Can Tell on Amazon

Links to Crossmap

• Crossmap Website
• Crossmap Facebook