Musician and Pastor Tauren Wells has a passion for teaching people about the joys of knowing and serving Jesus Christ. Once known as part of the praise team for Pastor Joel Osteen at Lakewood Church in Houston, Wells now co-pastors his own church, Church of Whitestone in Austin, Texas, with his wife Lorna. His new book takes a deep dive into the Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel of Matthew, exploring how happiness comes not from external things but from a changed heart, a heart that's growing in closeness to Jesus. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Pastor Wells explains his new book, "Joy Bomb: Unleash Jesus's Explosive Joy for an Extraordinary Life," that true joy is "rooted in God's unchanging character and boundless love for us."

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For parishioners and staff of St. Rita's Catholic Church, making sense of tragedy and trauma alongside the belief in a loving God is not a spiritual

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Experts warn that Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamani is fighting a long-haul Holy War against Israel and the West. In this kind of campaign, bombs and bullets are bound to have limited success against the Islamic Republic. It's good for securing peace for a few months or years; that resembles more the absence of conflict, rather than the presence of true shalom lasting for countless generations. That's why Christian missionaries Tom and JoAnn Doyle are meeting the challenge, mounting a struggle with an arsenal of biblical proportions; meeting on the battlefield of spiritual warfare, hearts and minds. Their Uncharted Ministries is taking the Word of God into some of the most dangerous zones in the Middle East, Iran being one of them. From smuggling in Bibles — which are illegal to own — to supporting house churches — also illegal — to setting up a ministry for teenage girls to help them avoid being married off to Muslim men who are sometimes many times their age. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, the Doyles unwrap the current conflict, revealing what the people of Iran, Israel, Jordan and beyond are telling them about the Ayatollah's regime, and how most are applauding America for military moves against the Iranian regime.

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Israel has been strategic in its fight with Iran, targeting its proxies like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, before going after the source itself, the Islamic Republic. But there is a spiritual strategic operation underway in Iran as well. It's moving under the radar and may do more to bring down the terrorist regime than any bomb or military arsenal. It's the movement to convert the people of Iran. The organization "Transform Iran" was founded by ex-pats, Christians who fled the country soon after the 1979 revolution. Their sole mission and purpose is to reach the people of Iran with the message of the Gospel. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith, Lana Silk, CEO of Transform Iran and the daughter of its founders, talks about the politics of what's happening in Iran as it wages a Holy War against Israel and the West, but also how the more effective victory is the message of Jesus Christ being embraced by the people looking to free themselves from under the oppressive government's control. Silk says while Iran is officially 99.4% Muslim, the reality is fewer than half of the people practice the faith. And in a country where it is illegal to convert from Islam or own a Bible or go to a Christian house church, people are accepting Christ by the thousands.

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The Supreme Court's decision to affirm Tennessee's ban on so

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The most patriotic day for America is July 4th when we celebrate the country's birthday commemorating the Founding Fathers' signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. But the month of June that precedes it is filled with three commemorative days also steeped in faith and patriotism, made possible because of what happened at the Second Continental Congress as America woke up to its power as a free Republic, and its even greater responsibility to bow down to Divine Providence. Flag Day, Father's Day, and Juneteenth. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, historian, best-selling author and speaker William Federer explains how all three of these special days exist only because of the authority the signers gave to the vital importance of faith in an Almighty God, and the value of the family. Hear how Father's Day began because of the worst coal mining explosion in the nation's history; how the American flag stands as a standard that should unite all Americans; and how Juneteenth celebrates the day the last slaves were told they were free from bondage.

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Former Ohio Governor John Kasich believes the power of faith is not just a tool for personal happiness and fulfillment, but a great resource to help build communities and solve some of our most pressing concerns like poverty, health care, and building strong neighborhoods. Not content to leave civic involvement to government agencies, Kasich, who's also a former Fox News Channel contributor and GOP presidential candidate, sees religious institutions as the best hope for trench warfare against the evils of our time. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Kasich discusses his book, "Heaven Help Us," and how faith groups don't need government to strengthen communities; only a person with a great idea whose willing to work, like the man who was inspired by his meeting with Mother Theresa and went home and delivered groceries to a couple of homes, and now is feeding over a half a million daily. Good works are infectious. And it's the kind of virus that brings positive changes all around.

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Celebrity marriages come and go... and they do so rather quickly and often. But a true power couple is one where both man and woman, individually, are first devoted to God. So says Grammy Award-winning Christian artist Rebecca St. James and her filmmaker and pop band co-founder Cubbie Fink. Each found success in their careers before they even met, and both held up a godly standard for dating and for potential mates. Now married for 14 years, they have three children and full schedules. In this season of weddings and the hope in a love that lasts forever, St. James and Fink offer advice to couples on what gives a marriage the power to succeed. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith, the couple talks about their new book, "Lasting Ever: Faith, Music, Family & Being Found By True Love." The book's title is the giveaway, because the only true love available to the whole of humanity, is the love that survives into eternity, the love of Jesus Christ. Through ups and downs and sickness and health, marriage is a journey that needs Divine Guidance, to give it the best chance to not just survive, but thrive.

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The Torah is made up of the first five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. Both Christians and Jews revere these books as containing incredible wisdom and a wealth of knowledge of who God is and His purpose for humanity. But theologian and author Mark Gerson actually thinks the Torah should be in the self-help section of bookstores for its wealth of common-sense instructions on how we can have fulfilled lives. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Gerson, entrepreneur and Jewish leader, unpacks his book "God Was Right", explaining how social scientists today prove the Torah true; not just subjectively, but objectively. When it comes to marriage, dating, money management, etc., the Torah (the book Moses penned several millennia ago) is true to its Word.

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Attorney Vernadette Broyles knows her biology and science when it comes to gender and sexuality. She has an undergraduate degree in biology from Yale and was headed to medical school before the legal profession became her passion. She now advocates for children and parents, walking alongside them in their legal battles against the powerful lobby and juggernaut of the gender ideological movement that’s pushing transgenderism on children in schools, government, and the culture at large - stripping parents of their rights to determine their children's care. Broyles is the President and General Counsel for Child & Parental Rights Campaign. She and her team have created tools for churches, pastors and parents called The Church Transgender Response Guide. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Broyles explains the deeper evil fueling the transgender movement, its historical roots, and the legal cases she’s now taking on. She’s sounding the alarm, offering churches videos, in person training, and even zoom calls. A full court press to fight back and give parents and churches the ammunition to live out their God given authority.

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