Crossmap Podcast

Do all dogs really go to heaven?

That question has been bandied about by the best of us for many generations. While we could likely spend an entire afternoon going back and forth about the theological and philosophical ramifications of that question, instead, we turn our attention to the profound experience of losing our beloved pets here on earth.

Noted author and radio host Mark Gregston has first hand experience with this. After his dog recently passed away, he knew he needed a way to talk about the passing of an animal that had served him so loyally and had been such an integral part of his family. His new book, “Where’s Stitch: When You Feel Like You’ve Lost Your Best Furry Friend” strives to guide children dealing with the loss of their pet.

Mark joins us on the Crossmap Podcast to share a few tips from a faith-based point of view on how to help your children or grandchildren work through the process of grieving the loss of your pet. Listen as he talks about holding onto the positive memories of our pets while moving confidently into the future.

Links to Mark Gregston

• Where’s Stitch: When You Feel Like You’ve Lost Your Best Furry Friend | Book
• Parenting Today's Teens Website
• Parenting Today's Teens on Facebook

Links to Crossmap

• Crossmap Website
• Crossmap Facebook

With the exception of Mom’s Night Out released in 2014, or a scene here and there from a Kendrick Brothers release, movie goers are really hard pressed to find something of substance to point to as a successful Christian comedic film.

Faith-based movie executives point to the fact comedy walks a fine line between being tasteful and tasteless. In essence, what is funny to some is not funny to others. In fact, sometimes it can be downright offensive. Subsequently, movie studios have traditionally stayed away from these releases in the past because they don’t want to “walk a tightrope” of spiritual decency trying to keep everyone happy.

A new movie releasing this month hopes to change that notion. Family Camp portrays two seemingly polar-opposite families who are assigned to share the same cabin for a hilariously eventful week at church camp.

The movie marks the feature-length film debut of The Skit Guys, Tommy Woodward and Eddie James, two comedy veterans who have performed skits and improv on thousands of stages all over the world. Disney Channel alum Leigh-Allyn Baker and Robert Amaya (Courageous) also star.

Tommy and Eddie join us on the Crossmap Podcast to share why it is important for families to laugh together during these unsettling times we are living in. Listen as they talk about how humor can break down barriers and learn a bit more about Family Camp.

Jars of Clay lead singer Dan Haseltine has spent the better of his adult life collaborating with his bandmates to create quality music for millions of listeners. In a career spanning nearly 30 years, Jars of Clay has garnered multiple Grammy Awards, the benchmark for musical excellence.

Together, the duo have been commissioned to create the subtle yet sophisticated musical expressions you hear in the groundbreaking video series, “The Chosen”. Their hope is to create musical elements that will bring the viewing experience full circle, capturing the full rhythms of time and space.

Dan and Matthew join us on The Crossmap Podcast to share their approach to creating music for the show in hopes of having it become an additional character of sorts on the program. Listen as they talk about the collaborative process and how it can be both exhilarating and exasperating all at the same time.

Dr. Jim Denison believes that a surging number of Christians are softening their stance on what he calls four cultural earthquakes: the rise of a post-truth culture, sexual revolution, critical theory, and secular religion. And it is the cultural acceptance of these secular ideologies that will undoubtedly shift and seismically shape our world in the years ahead.

There is growing sentiment that this is the gravest danger Christians have ever faced and ultimately will make the 1960s seem like an era of peace, love, and happiness rather than a doorway to the destruction of decency that it was.

Dr. Denison joins us on The Crossmap Podcast to discuss his latest book, “The Coming Tsunami: Why Christians Are Labeled Intolerant, Irrelevant, Oppressive, and Dangerous – and How We Can Turn the Tide”. Listen as Dr. Denison urges Christians to not run away from these tidal waves but defend the truth of God’s Word that will undoubtedly have a positive effect on the generations to come.

Billie Jauss has spent the better part of 30 years following professional baseball in a way that is uncommon to most. As the wife of longtime Major League Baseball coach Dave Jauss, Billie has been able to see the pressures of the game on players and coaches and the external distractions that come with it. In essence, she has seen some of the best athletes in the world struggle to overcome emotional barriers in their lives.

From this experience, Billie determined that by detoxing from the anxiety and pressures that often present themselves to us in a variety of ways, we can claim confidence and find personal fulfillment in realizing God’s best for us.

Billie joins us on The Crossmap Podcast to discuss her latest book, “Distraction Detox”, a guide for discovering what God intended for our lives and how we can claim victory over distraction. Listen as Billie shows us a five-step plan that will release confidence, peace, and fulfillment within us.  We will even talk a little baseball too!

In a series of divine, dramatic encounters, author and television host Shawn Bolz was recently given a glimpse into the spirit realm that gave him a sneak peek into the character of God’s heart.

Simply put, Shawn met God in a unique way and believes his supernatural experience will help others to better relate to what the Bible teaches.

Bolz joins us on The Crossmap Podcast to discuss his latest book, “Encounter,” a work designed to help readers expand their “spiritual intelligence” and to walk in the life God has prepared for them.  Listen as Shawn shares from his personal encounters with God that he believes will help you better relate to what the Bible teaches.

Long before Lee Strobel became a bestselling author, most notably for his watershed book, "The Case for Christ," he was a nose-to-the-grindstone investigative reporter known for his relentless pursuit of the truth. But beyond the grit and grind of the hard-charging newspaper industry, Strobel was an avowed atheist. So deeply rooted in his beliefs, he set out to debunk every claim that Christianity ever made.  There was only one problem.  He couldn’t do it.

In a similar dogged fashion, Strobel had a brush with death a few years ago that inspired him to explore mankind’s biggest fear: what happens when we die?  Do we go to heaven, hell, or someplace in between? The end result for him was a book, "The Case for Heaven," that took readers on a detailed exploration of the most logical outcomes for a human being’s demise.

Strobel joins us on The Crossmap Podcast to discuss his latest movie project, “The Case for Heaven," a Fathom movie event to be shown in theaters nationwide April 4, 5, and 6.  Listen as Strobel builds his case in support of the afterlife, why death is not the end of our existence, and what actually happens when we take our last breath.

For brothers Andy and Jon Erwin, the chance to make a movie about football icon Kurt Warner was the culmination of a 20-year dream for them both.  

Long before directing American Underdog, set to release on home video, February 22nd, the Erwins were two Alabama teenagers with a dream of one day directing movies that could change the world.  

Truly underdogs in their own right, Jon and Andy were fortunate enough to find work as cameramen on college football games for ESPN. 

The pair eventually became good enough at their burgeoning craft to work the 2002 Super Bowl, pitting the New England Patriots against Kurt Warner and the St. Louis Rams.  Little did the brothers know that they would be making a movie about the football legend’s life 20 years later.

Andy Erwin joins us on The Crossmap Podcast to discuss why everyone seems to love an underdog story, how Brenda Warner entered her future husband’s life at just the right time, and the role that faith played in Kurt’s rags to riches rise to fame.

Georgia megachurch pastor Benny Tate endured a childhood marked by abuse and abandonment only to battle many heartbreaking situations in his adult life, including navigating a difficult illness and battling through infertility with his wife. Yet for every setback and seemingly impossible situation he faced, Benny walked out his faith and actually grew in strength and wisdom.

For nearly two decades, Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Brooke Ligertwood has served the global church through song, leadership and creativity as part of Hillsong Worship. Concurrently, she has also had a successful mainstream recording career as a solo artist, releasing six previous albums as Brooke Fraser. Now comes a seventh album, but this one is a bit different.