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Episode #368

Ryan shares the current state of global Christian persecution and what US leaders should do to help. He discusses current trade shifts and how the US can use it's leverage to push nations like China, India, Syria and others to eliminate Christian persecution. 

Visit ryanshoward.com to find specific episodes on many countries, including North Korea. Ryan also interviewed North Korean Defector Grace Jo and Kenneth Bae, who was in prison in North Korea for 2 years. You can also find interviews with former Open Doors CEO's and Kay Rubacek, who was jailed in China.

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HowToGrowYourFaith.com >> Learn the 5 Biggest Mistakes Christians Make In Their Walk With God (and how you can avoid them!)

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Today Shannon Lenz talks about the lessons we learn when we get a little too critical of others. Thankfully, Jesus gives us guidance to be discerning and learn to live with more compassion and less criticism.

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Everyday Outreach  goes back to the Bible to help you discover how to share the hope of the Gospel in everyday ways with neighbors, co-workers, friends, and family - right where God has planted you. 

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Proverbs 4:26 reminds us, “Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.”

That’s a call to intentional living—choosing wisdom over impulse, especially in how we manage our money. We often emphasize that budgeting isn’t just about numbers—it’s about aligning your resources with God’s purposes.

Matt Bell, a trusted voice in biblical finance, recently wrote about the contrast between cultural and Christian approaches to budgeting. He notes that culture gives your money a script:

“Make $80,000 a year. Then move into this neighborhood, drive that car, wear these clothes, eat in these restaurants, and take these vacations. Then you can give.”

In this model, spending comes first and usually leads to debt. If we're lucky, we might save or give with what’s left. The result? Financial stress, shrinking savings, and a fading sense of contentment.

But what if budgeting isn’t just a spending plan—it’s a sacred trust?

Deuteronomy 8:18 says, “You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth.” 

Your income is a gift and a responsibility. Imagine God saying:

“I’m entrusting you with $80,000 this year. Use it to reflect My love—meet needs, fund ministry, invest in My Kingdom. Save wisely. Enjoy what I’ve provided.”

This echoes 1 Timothy 6:17, which reminds us that God “richly provides us with everything to enjoy.” With a biblical framework, our financial decisions flip the cultural script:

• Give first
• Then save and invest
• Then spend wisely
• And use debt sparingly

Paul David Tripp puts it this way:

“God calls us to stop starting with ourselves and hoping there’s money left over for him. Instead, the call is to willingly and joyfully accept that our money’s primary purpose is to fund a kingdom of generosity… and then trust that God will provide what we need.”

Jesus warned in Matthew 7:26–27 that anyone who builds their life on shifting sand—hearing His words but not doing them—will find their house collapsing in the storm. A budget based on biblical principles isn’t just practical—it’s foundational. It anchors our financial lives to the truth of God’s Word.

If you're ready to build your finances on that foundation, it helps to partner with others who share your values. That’s why we’re grateful for Christian Community Credit Union (CCCU).

More than a bank, CCCU is a financial institution with a Kingdom mission. They offer everything you’d expect—checking, savings, loans, mortgages—but they also invest your deposits in ministries that serve the Gospel worldwide. Every dollar becomes a tool for transformation.

If you’re seeking a trusted financial partner that aligns with your faith and fuels your impact, learn more at JoinChristianCommunity.com.

Budgeting isn’t about restriction—it’s about worship. It’s about saying, “Lord, everything I have is from You and for You.” When we carefully consider our financial paths, we begin to experience the freedom, peace, and joy of Kingdom stewardship.

• I will be full retirement age in August. I'm still working, so my Social Security will be a surplus that I want to put toward my home. I

What does it look like to follow God’s will in love and relationships? In today's message, Dr. John Neufeld continues in Genesis 24, unfolding the story of how Abraham’s servant sought a wife for Isaac—not through chance, but through faith, prayer, and wisdom. As he unpacks the servant’s trust in God’s providence, Dr. John challenges us to consider how God's hand guides not only our relationships, but all of life’s important decisions.

Confident Faith: In this 4-week series on Genesis 18-25, Dr. John Neufeld looks at the life of Abraham and unpacks the topic of faith. How is faith formed? How does faith mature? And how can faith help us trust in what God has promised, even though we can’t see it yet.

From day-to-day living to the biggest challenges in your life … are you relying upon yourself, or on God?  That’s the subject today on Bold Steps, with Pastor Mark Jobe. We’re sharing a message that he first preached at a Moody Bible Institute Student Chapel service … and it’s a lesson that we all need to consider very seriously. Sometimes God wants to downsize your strength to prepare you for the greatest battles in your life. We should be as prepared as possible, but God wants to make sure that our trust and dependance is in HIM alone and not in ourselves.

Bold Steps Gift: LIES GIRLS BELIEVE: AND THE TRUTH THAT SETS THEM FREE

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Many couples complain that they don't have enough money for marital enrichment. To have more money you need to make more or spend less. In his book, Happily Ever After, Dr. Gary Chapman provides some creative ideas on how to make more money.

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