iRetire4Him

FEATURING: Itai Schimmel 

ORGANIZATION: Artza Box 

What if you could bring a little piece of the Holy Land into your home while making a meaningful difference in the lives of the people who live and work there? This holiday season, Jim and Martha are sharing a special opportunity to do just that! 

In this special release episode, they welcome Itai Schimmel, founder of Artza Box, a unique ministry-minded business that connects people with Israel through thoughtfully curated gift boxes. Each quarterly delivery takes you on a journey through a different region of the Holy Land, featuring handcrafted treasures, locally produced foods, spices, and stories from the artisans and small businesses behind them. 

What you'll hear in this episode: 

• The story behind Artza Box and its mission to connect people with the Holy Land 

• Martha shares her own experience opening her first Artza box 

• How each box combines biblical history, Scripture, local culture, and handcrafted products 

• The small-business owners, artisans, and charitable organizations who benefit from every subscription 

• How the “Jesus Trail” box brings the sights, flavors, and stories of biblical Israel into your home 

• Itai gives a teaser about items you can expect to find in the Christmas “Gifts of the Magi” collection 

• Why an Artza Box subscription makes a meaningful gift that continues giving throughout the year 

Whether you're shopping for children, grandchildren, friends, fellow believers, or someone who's always wanted to experience Israel, this is a gift with a story worth sharing. 

Give a gift with a lasting impact! Visit our special iWork4Him Artza Box link and use promo code 4HIM20 to receive 20% off your purchase. Order by December 17 to guarantee Christmas delivery. 

Enjoyed this episode? Help iRetire4Him show more retirees that God still isn’t finished working in and through them. Support us for $5/month at iwork4him.com/iretire4him-donate 

Exciting opportunities we want to share with you: 

• Pursue Kingdom obedience in your investments, visit InvestBRI.com to connect with Biblically Responsible Investing expert Luke Andrews.  

• Looking for a unique, impactful gift? Journey to the Holy Land with the Artza Box (https://www.artzabox.com/?utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=pap#rfsn=4HIM20) , a quarterly selection of authentic Israeli items crafted by Israeli artisans. Use code 4HIM20 for 20% your order! 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

FEATURING: Danita Bye 

ORGANIZATION: Christian Crossroads Academy 

Although what most would consider “retirement age,” Danita Bye is proving that age is no barrier to making a difference. Alongside her family and a committed community, she’s helping launch Christian Crossroads Academy, a classical Christian school in rural North Dakota that’s shaping students academically, spiritually, and in character. 

In this episode, Danita shares how a concern for the next generation, a surprising family decision, and God’s direction led her into an entirely new adventure over the last couple of years. From transforming a lumberyard into a school to navigating unexpected challenges, she’s learning to trust God one step at a time. Her story is an encouraging reminder that the wisdom, experience, and gifts you’ve accumulated over a lifetime may be exactly what God wants to use next. 

What you’ll hear in the episode: 

• Why retirement doesn’t have to mean stepping away from meaningful work 

• How to recognize and embrace God’s current assignment for your life 

• Why Christian education must develop both academic excellence and godly character 

• How to trust God when He calls you into unfamiliar territory 

• Why hearing God’s direction must be followed by obedience 

Whether you’re retired, approaching retirement, or simply wondering what God has next for you, Danita’s story will challenge you to keep listening, learning, and saying “yes” to His call. As she reminds us, a fruitful life comes from hearing and obeying God – at any age, in any place, and in every season! 

• Enjoyed this episode? Help iRetire4Him show more retirees that God still isn’t finished working in and through them. Support us for $5/month at iwork4him.com/iretire4him-donate 

• And if you want to pursue Kingdom obedience in your investments, visit InvestBRI.com to connect with Biblically Responsible Investing expert Luke Andrews.  

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

FEATURING: Bob & Alice Fryling 

ORGANIZATION: Aging Faithfully: The Holy Invitation of Growing Older 

Breaking news: people are getting old!  

While aging may not be breaking news, talking honestly – and even laughing a little – about what it means to grow older can be surprisingly refreshing. Alice and Bob Fryling join Jim and Martha for a fun, candid conversation about aging faithfully, retirement, purpose, marriage and the ways God continues to use us in every season of life. 

Drawing from Alice's book Aging Faithfully and their own 55 years of marriage, ministry, career transitions and retirement, the Frylings share both the serious realities and the lighter moments of growing older. They explore the fear of losing abilities and identity, the difference between productivity and fruitfulness, and what it looks like to remain available to God's "holy invitations." Along the way, there's plenty of laughter, including some honest observations about retirement, racquetball, lunch dates, and even the challenges of serving on an HOA board. 

What you'll hear in the episode: 

• Why aging can be such an uncomfortable topic, especially for Christians 

• The fear of losing our ability to serve God in familiar ways 

• Alice's journey from productivity to fruitfulness: the difference between accomplishing tasks and displaying the fruit of the Spirit 

• How Bob's retirement challenged his identity and sense of purpose 

• What it means to live with "holy invitations" and be available to what God brings in an ordinary day 

• Why aging and retirement can look different in our 60s, 70s, and 80s 

• How preparing practically for death can bring freedom and strengthen family relationships 

• Bob's picture from Ezekiel 47 of going with the river and watching for where God brings healing, flourishing, and fruitfulness 

Growing older may change what we can do, but it doesn't mean our usefulness or purpose is over. In fact, as Alice and Bob's story shows, some of the most meaningful opportunities for fruitfulness may come when we're no longer trying to make them happen. Sometimes we simply need to stay available, follow God's lead – and enjoy the journey along the way! 

• Enjoyed this episode? Help iRetire4Him show more retirees that God still isn’t finished working in and through them. Support us for $5/month at iwork4him.com/iretire4him-donate 

• And if you want to pursue Kingdom obedience in your investments, visit InvestBRI.com to connect with Biblically Responsible Investing expert Luke Andrews.  

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

FEATURING: Dr. Chuck Coker 

ORGANIZATION: LifeThrive; A God-Shaped Mind 

God designed our minds for more than simply surviving. He created us for human flourishing, spiritual growth, and a life connected to Him – and that purpose doesn't end when we retire! 

In this episode of iRetire4Him, Jim and Martha Brangenberg talk with Chuck Coker, author of A God-Shaped Mind: The Neuroscientific Path to Spiritual Maturity, about the fascinating connection between Scripture, spiritual maturity, neuroscience, and human flourishing. Chuck explains how our minds were designed with the capacity for spiritual perception and how growing in our relationship with God can change the way we think, serve, and interact with others. 

Chuck also challenges the idea that retirement should be a time to simply slow down. Drawing from Scripture and research on longevity, he highlights five principles that can contribute to a longer, healthier, more purposeful life: faith, exercise and food, purpose, Sabbath, and intergenerational relationships. 

In this episode, you'll hear: 

• Why Chuck believes our minds were designed for human flourishing and spiritual growth 

• How salvation and spiritual maturity should transform the way we think and live 

• The biblical concept of kenosis – Christ's example of humility, self-emptying, and serving others 

• How to move from a survival mentality toward a service mentality 

• The connection Chuck sees between the fruit of the Spirit and emotional intelligence 

• Five principles associated with longevity and how they align with biblical principles 

• Why purpose and intergenerational relationships are especially important during retirement 

• Chuck's encouragement to make glorifying God the central purpose of every season of life 

For retirees, this message offers an important reminder: you don't retire from God's purposes. Your experience, wisdom, relationships, and spiritual maturity can be invested in the next generation in ways that have eternal significance.

• Enjoyed this episode? Help iRetire4Him show more retirees that God still isn’t finished working in and through them. Support us for $5/month at iwork4him.com/iretire4him-donate 

• And if you want to pursue Kingdom obedience in your investments, visit InvestBRI.com to connect with Biblically Responsible Investing expert Luke Andrews.  

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

FEATURING: Tom Lutz 

ORGANIZATION: Equipping Christians for Kingdom Obedience; Metro Atlanta Seminary 

What if God's laws aren't meant to feel like restrictions, but like a gift – a guide for living wisely and flourishing in the world He created? 

In this episode of iRetire4Him, Jim and Martha Brangenberg sit down with Tom Lutz, author of Equipping Christians for Kingdom Obedience, to explore what biblical obedience really means and how God's principles can shape the way we live in every season, including retirement. 

Tom explains that God's law was given in the context of grace, not as a way for us to earn God's favor but as a guide for those He has already redeemed. That changes the way we should think about obedience. Rather than asking, "What do I get if I obey?" we can ask, "What is God showing me about the wise way to live?" 

That perspective has powerful implications for retirement. From deciding how to spend our days to using our accumulated wisdom, making financial and relational decisions, mentoring others, and simply learning to slow down and listen to God, biblical obedience provides practical guidance for navigating this season well. 

In this episode, you'll hear: 

• Why God's law should be viewed as a gift rather than a burden 

• The difference between obeying God to earn a reward and obeying Him because we trust His wisdom 

• How God's commands provide principles that can be applied to changing circumstances and cultures 

• Why wisdom is the practical application of God's Word to everyday life 

• How biblical obedience can influence the decisions retirees make with their time, resources, relationships, and influence 

• Why retirees may need to shift from doing more to listening more 

• How the principles of kingdom obedience apply whether or not you're still receiving a paycheck 

Retirement doesn't mean leaving behind God's instructions for how to live. In fact, this season may provide new opportunities to apply His wisdom with greater experience, greater perspective, and perhaps more freedom to slow down and listen. 

God's commands aren't simply rules to follow. They are His gracious guidance for helping us live wisely and bring His kingdom influence into the world around us. 

Enjoyed this episode? Help iRetire4Him show more retirees that God still isn’t finished working in and through them. Support us for $5/month at iwork4him.com/iretire4him-donate 

And if you want to pursue Kingdom obedience in your investments, visit InvestBRI.com to connect with Biblically Responsible Investing expert Luke Andrews.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

FEATURING: Susan Schramm 

ORGANIZATION: Go to Market Impact; Fast Track Your Big Idea! Navigate Risk, Move People to Action and Avoid your Strategy Going Off Course 

What if the greatest risk in retirement isn't running out of money, but running away from the purpose God still has for you? 

In this thought-provoking conversation, business strategist and author of Fast Track Your Big Idea! Susan Schramm challenges the belief that retirement is a time to play it safe. Instead, she explains that every season of life – including retirement – requires faith, courage, and a willingness to trust God with the unknown. While wise financial planning matters, Susan argues that many retirees face even greater risks: losing their identity after leaving a career, overcommitting to every opportunity, or avoiding God's next calling because it feels uncertain. 

Whether you're considering retirement, already enjoying your next chapter, or wondering what God has for you now, this episode will encourage you to embrace thoughtful, faith-filled risks that lead to lasting Kingdom impact. 

In this episode, you'll hear: 

• Why retirement is another season of purpose, not a reason to stop taking faithful risks 

• The difference between reckless decisions and wise, God-honoring risk-taking 

• Why the greatest risks in retirement often have nothing to do with finances 

• How fear of failure can keep you from God's next assignment 

• Why your identity must be rooted in Christ, not your career or title 

• Practical wisdom for discerning which opportunities God is calling you to pursue 

• How to use your experience, wisdom, and influence to serve others in this season 

• Why avoiding change may be riskier than stepping into God's next chapter 

God never calls His people to simply coast through the final chapters of life. If you still have breath, He still has purpose for you. Listen as Susan Schramm offers practical wisdom and Biblical encouragement for navigating risk with confidence, stewarding your experience well, and stepping boldly into whatever God has planned next. 

Join Susan, Jim, and Martha this week at the Nehemiah Business Summit 2026 – three days of Kingdom business events like you’ve never experienced before.  

Enjoyed this episode? Help iRetire4Him show more retirees that God still isn’t finished working in and through them. Support us for $5/month at iwork4him.com/iretire4him-donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

FEATURING: Ken & Patti Sandel 

ORGANIZATION: Apartment Life 

What if your retirement address could become your mission field? Ken and Patti Sandel left successful careers in insurance, tried mission life on the road, in the mountains, and at the beach – and then said yes to something nobody expected: moving into a diverse Tennessee apartment community at ages 70 and 83 to become on-site missionaries with Apartment Life. 

Over a year into their assignment, Ken and Patti share the real, unfiltered story of what it looks like to build a family out of strangers behind closed apartment doors = the breakthroughs, the slow trust-building, the tears, and the many kids who now show up in the Sandel’s backyard just to be loved on. This episode gives an incredible look at the opportunity for God to use you to bring the Kingdom in your own neighborhood and community.  

What You'll Hear: 

• Why Ken said no to an apartment – and how God changed his mind 

• The mission of Apartment Life, straight from the field 

• A staggering stat: roughly 80–90% of apartment residents aren't part of any church 

• What neighboring actually looks like day to day: backyard games, giving a mom of six a break, a teen showing up needing a safe place 

• The slow, real work of earning trust and the honest admission that ministry like this can be lonely 

• Neighborhood events that build belonging, from newcomer receptions to simple invitations 

• Walking the dog as a mission strategy 

• Showing up in the hardest moments, including grief and anger at God 

• The business case for apartment owners = community-building that boosts retention and reduces turnover 

• A direct invitation: Apartment Life needs an estimated 100,000 couples nationwide 

Ken and Patti's story is a vivid, on-the-ground picture of what living with intentionality in your neighborhood looks like when a retired couple takes it seriously and a challenge to every listener that their own neighborhood, whatever kind it is, is a mission field. If this story stirs something in you, visit apartmentlife.org to learn more about becoming an Apartment Life missionary!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Featuring: Bob Lambert 

Ministry: Human2Human 

At 78 years old, Bob Lambert did something many people would never consider: he started a brand-new business. 

After decades of building companies and investing in leaders, Bob wasn't interested in slowing down. Instead, he began asking God a different question: How do You want to use everything You've taught me? That question led to Human2Human, a business focused on connecting people, developing leaders, and helping the next generation thrive. 

In this episode of iRetire4Him, Jim and Martha Brangenberg talk with long-time faith and work collaborator Bob Lambert about why he believes God never intended retirement to be the end of our contribution. From mentoring young professionals to reconnecting with old relationships and launching new Kingdom initiatives, Bob shares how this season of life has become one of his most meaningful yet. 

In this episode, you'll hear: 

• Why Bob chose to start a new business instead of settling into traditional retirement 

• How years of experience can become a powerful investment in the next generation 

• About Bob’s church embracing business ministry (Christ Church in the Chicago area) 

• The value of reconnecting with people and using relationships to advance God's Kingdom 

• Why purpose doesn't disappear with age – it often becomes clearer 

• Practical encouragement for retirees wondering what God has planned for their next season  

Bob's story is a refreshing reminder that retirement isn't about stepping away from God's work. It's about discovering new ways to use the wisdom, experience, and gifts He's been developing in you all along. Whether that means mentoring, volunteering, launching something new, or simply investing intentionally in others, God still has meaningful work for you to do. 

P.S. Don't forget our Summer Picnic Challenge! Gather a few neighbors, friends, or family members for a picnic, potluck, or backyard get-together. Send us a photo of your gathering ([email protected]), and you'll be entered for a chance to win a special prize at the end of the summer. We can't wait to see how you're building community right where God has placed you. 

Enjoyed this episode? Help iRetire4Him reach more Jesus loving retirees with messages that will add purpose to their retirement years. Support us for $5/month at iwork4him.com/donate 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Featuring: Luke Andrews 

Ministry: Inspire Advisors 

Most retirees spend a lot of time asking, Will I have enough? But what if there's another question worth asking: Is my money making an eternal impact? 

In this episode of iRetire4Him, Jim and Martha Brangenberg welcome Luke Andrews of Inspire Advisors for a practical conversation about Biblically Responsible Investing (BRI). Luke shares how many Christians unknowingly own investments that support causes and values they don't agree with – and how it's possible to align your portfolio with your faith without sacrificing sound financial planning. 

More than just a discussion about investments, this episode explores what it means to view retirement as a season of purpose. Instead of simply preserving wealth, retirees have an opportunity to steward their resources in ways that support God's work and leave a lasting legacy. 

What You'll Hear in This Episode 

• Why retirement planning should include both financial security and kingdom impact 

• What Biblically Responsible Investing is and why it matters 

• How to evaluate whether your current investments align with your values 

• The influence Christian investors can have when they steward their resources intentionally 

• How shareholder engagement can help shape corporate decisions 

• Practical steps for transitioning a portfolio toward biblical alignment 
• Ways retirees can use their financial resources to support ministry, generosity, and future generations 

If you have questions about Biblically Responsible Investing or would like to explore what it could look like for your own portfolio, connect with Luke Andrews at InvestBRI.com or by calling 727-798-4188. He'd be happy to help you take the next step! 

P.S. Don't forget our Summer Picnic Challenge! Gather a few neighbors, friends, or family members for a picnic, potluck, or backyard get-together. Send us a photo of your gathering ([email protected]), and you'll be entered for a chance to win a special prize at the end of the summer. We can't wait to see how you're building community right where God has placed you. 

Enjoyed this episode? Help iRetire4Him reach more Christ followers with the message that their work matters to God. Support us for $5/month at iwork4him.com/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Featuring: Jim & Martha Brangenberg 

Ministry: iWork4Him & iRetire4Him 

What if a simple summer picnic could change our country? 

In this lively episode, Jim and Martha Brangenberg launch a summer challenge for listeners: host a neighborhood picnic. They share personal stories, practical hospitality ideas, and a biblical reminder that loving your neighbor often starts with simply spending time together. 

The conversation highlights how modern life has isolated many people from those living right next door and how food, fellowship, and intentional connection can begin changing that. Jim and Martha also offer easy, low-pressure ideas for hosting a casual gathering that helps neighbors feel seen, welcomed, and loved. 

What You’ll Hear: 

• Why neighborhood connection matters 

• How simple hospitality reflects the love of Christ 

• Practical tips for hosting an easy summer picnic 

• Why relationship-building helps break down barriers 

• Fun ideas for food, games, and gathering neighbors together 

• The vision behind the iWork4Him/iRetire4Him summer picnic challenge 

Action Steps: 

1. Plan to host a simple neighborhood picnic this summer. 

1. Invite your neighbors – whether a few close by or the whole street.  

1. Keep it casual; no need to overcomplicate it.  

1. Use the gathering to build genuine relationships (doesn’t need to be explicitly evangelistic). 

1. Take a photo and send it to [email protected] to enter the summer giveaway 

This episode is a refreshing reminder that ministry doesn’t always happen from a stage. Sometimes it starts in your driveway, backyard, or front lawn with an open invitation and a shared meal! 

Enjoyed this episode? Help iRetire4Him reach more Christ followers with the message that their work matters to God. Support us for $5/month at iwork4him.com/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.