Family and Stories

Dreama is best known as the wife of Bob Denver, you know, Gilligan, the loveable character from the series, “Gilligan’s Island.” She is an actress in her own right on stage and screen, an author, and the owner of a radio station with a delightful name, “Little Buddy Radio.”

Dreama lived 30 wonderful years with the love of her life, Bob, before he passed away in 2005. Yet, her story is far from a fairytale life. Their son, Colin, was born with severe autism. Bob and Dreama made the decision to walk away from Hollywood to raise their son.

Then, after 20 years of caring for Colin, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, Bob was diagnosed with cancer. In those difficult months, Dreama suffered a stress induced heart attack. Years later, she fought a battle with breast cancer.

But the best part of her story is the ongoing epilogue of her life, the last seven years have been especially amazing since the Holy Spirit reached out and touched her life in a miraculous way.

Listen as Dreama tells her story.

An 18 year old high school graduate is working in a glass factor to earn money for college. He's excitedly looking forward to playing baseball in college. Then, tragically, his throwing arm is ripped off above the elbow in an industrial accident. The boy that others thought was a real Christian now wanted nothing to do with God. His anger, bitterness and depression led him to tell God, "You go Your way and I'll go mine," and he meant it. Listen as Jeff tells his story.

Two emotions, fear and anger, have been running rampant across our nation. For some, fear has turned to panic, and anger has turned to rage. For others it has led to disappointment, depression, and a sense of hopelessness. And more than a few are simply confused. This podcast is not an analysis of politics in America. It’s not about who is right or who is wrong. It’s about clear perspective and walking with peace and joy while storms rage. Tony uses the story of the Apostle Paul when he faced rioters in Ephesus in AD56 to help us understand and navigate what we are experiencing today. Listen to “Fear and Anger or Peace and Joy” on the Family and Stories Podcast.

Listen as Scott Kays gives financial insights for the coming year. Scott, a registered Financial Advisor, is Founder and Financial Managing Principal of Kays Financial Advisory Corp. For over 35 years he has managed hundreds of millions of dollars. Equally as important, he is a strong believer with a clear biblical view of financial issues.

Randy runs his ranch from the back of a horse and makes some the most beautiful saddles in the world. Nothing unusual about that for a cowboy, until you learn that a devastating car crash left him paralyzed from the chest down some 35 years ago. What he does now is remarkable and has helped thousand with disabilities. You won't want to miss this.

Stripped of Shame is a front row seat into the life and mind of an addict and the crippling effects of drugs, alcohol, and childhood trauma. The heartfelt need for love and acceptance in the human psyche must be met in the life of every child. Left unfulfilled by parents, the void will be filled by someone else in some place other than the home. That never works for their good.  Doreen Stumpf knows this all too well. Her story is one of a downward spiral that began at a bus stop when a twenty something boy with blue eyes and a warm compelling smile invited this lonely, unhappy, fourteen year old girl into his life. That changed everything.

Day three, focused on the hunt, Jim was unaware that he was the one being stalked until he saw the look on his guide's face and heard him utter the word, bear! Jim turned his head and looked over his right shoulder. An eight hundred-pound grizzly was staring him down. Seconds later he was being mauled.

We have all heard it said, “decisions determine destiny” and it’s true. Our future has everything to do with the decisions we make today. However, they are never made in a vacuum. They often do more to change the lives of those around us than we could have ever imagined. And that is especially true when it comes to our children.

It was the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. Abbey D'Agostino was competing in the 5000 meter prelim race with the fastest women in the world. Three thousand meters in, the race accelerated unexpectedly, catching many by surprise. The runner in front of Abbey tripped and fell, causing Abbey to tumble as well. It could have been a small forgotten incident in the big picture of the Olympic games, but instead it went viral and it's where this story really began.

A longing to be loved, an unexpected pregnancy, a rushed marriage, a divorce, feelings of worthlessness and a heaping helping of guilt and shame: not  exactly the best recipe for a happy and hopeful future. Unfortunately, Laura’s story is not unique. Fortunately, there is a God who can take the ashes of our mistakes and turn them it into something beautiful. That’s exactly what happened to Laura. This story will bless you.