Most politicians tend to write books about what they've done while

in office. But Scott Morrison, a former Prime Minister of Australia, wanted to

write about what God has done and continues to do for him. Morrison is candid

about how God brought him through some of the most harrowing days of his

leadership of Australia, a country not known for its religious fervor. And

that's what makes Morrison's faith all the more interesting. One would expect

such devout beliefs in America, a country that Morrison greatly admires. But

the land down under is a bit of a head scratcher. Founded as a penal colony for

the United Kingdom, Australia had a rough and tumble beginning. On this episode

of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Morrison talks about his book "Plans For Your

Good: A Prime Minister’s Testimony Of God’s Faithfulness." It's based on

the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah's prescient words to the children of Israel,

and to us, "'For I know the plans I have for you,' says the Lord. 'They

are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.'” In

this political season, such comforts are words to cling to.

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Back in the early 1990's Matthew Barnett thought he was headed to Los Angeles for a short-term mission trip at a small church. Thirty years later, he's still there, but the operation is much larger. The Los Angeles Dream Center is the result. A massive operation that includes a 400,000 square foot facility and a church, which serves the homeless, getting the drug addicted unaddicted and seeing in all people the image of God. But the sad news is, despite the center's successes, the city of Los Angeles and the state government hierarchy refuses to partner with them because they are faith-based. While the city of Los Angeles announced they would spend $1 billion on the problem of homelessness, the equivalent of an estimated $50,000 for each homeless person, Barnett says it costs the center $7,500 to rehabilitate someone out of drug addiction. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith, Barnett talks about the triumph of transforming lives when God is at the center of the process. He says they're not just ministering to people's needs; they're ministering to people's potential. God-given dreams give people hope that there's something greater to live for.

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In 1996  Bishop W.C. Martin and his wife Donna Martin, from the small town of Possum Trot, Texas, adopted four children out of foster care. They inspired their entire congregation of Bennett Chappell Missionary Baptist Church to adopt every available child in the county's foster care system. Twenty-two families adopted all 77 children. Many of those children were some of the hardest to place; victims of sexual and physical abuse, neglect, trauma, and unsafe living situations. Thier story inspired the movie, "Sound of Hope: The Story of Possum Trot." On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, the Martins talk about the movie and the extraordinary saga of their lives that can only be described as God working miracles. The adopting of children with deep emotional and physical needs put untold strains on church bmembers' families and their finances. But through it all their faith helped them triumph. The Holy Spirit, not the spirit of the age, is what brought about astonishing transformations in the lives of the children and the families. The Martins challenge other churches to do the same. Right now there are some 400,000 children in the foster care system in the United States and 100,000 available for adoption. The Martins say if every church committed to giving every available child a loving home, the numbers would be reduced to zero. Answering the call of Jesus to look after the orphans, the least of these, is true religion.

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Author Stephen Strang says it's hypocrisy that mainstream media on the left

skewers Donald Trump's Evangelical supporters, asking the question, 'How can

believers in Jesus Christ support a man known for his philandering?'  Strang,

who's also the founder of Charisma Media, says, "Did we hold Lyndon Baines

Johnson or John Kennedy or Bill Clinton or a bunch of other people up to that

high standard? I don't think so." On this episode of Lighthouse Faith, Strang,

who's the author of "God And Donald Trump", and "Trump Aftershock: The

President’s Seismic Impact On Faith And Culture", talks about Trump's legal

woes, now that he's a convicted felon thanks to New York's District Attorney, and

why Evangelicals still support him. He points out that when Trump was a New

York billionaire Playboy, part of the social scene, attending Chelsea Clinton's

wedding, for instance, he was the darling of the press. But when he got serious

about life, protecting America's borders, joining the Republican Party, and

getting serious about his faith, that's when the media turned on him. Strang is

worried that many of the new Evangelicals are engaged in hero worship of

Trump, but he says most of Trump's supporters are silent, wanting only the right

choice for their communities and the country.

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The cultural clash over the LGBTQ community has spilled over into the Christian Church. One blaring example now is the schism in the United Methodist Church. But on a personal level, Christians are asking and voicing their opinions over Pride Month, which celebrates the gay community. It forces Christians to deal with one blaring question, "Is homosexuality consistent with Christianity?" Is it a sin, and part of human brokenness, or is it not a sin, and something that should be praised and honored? On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, two Christians offer their opinions. Ryan Bomberger, author and co-founder of the Radiance Foundation, and Doug Pagitt, an author and pastor who's been leading the conversation on progressive Christianity through Vote Common Good. It's not often people of faith talk to each other in a reasoned and respectful way about this culturally divisive issue. But for people who are followers of Jesus Christ, it is essential, if there ever could be a realization of John 17, "May they all be one."

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Willie Robertson is all about having a conversation... about Jesus. Robertson is a member of the famous Duck Dynasty clan whose reality show became one of the most popular ever. It was a program that might never have been until producers promised patriarch, Phil Robertson, they could talk openly about their faith in Jesus Christ. The show became known for the family's prayers at mealtime. Now Willie, Phil's son, has a new book out called "The Gospeler: Turning Darkness Into Light One Conversation At A Time." On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Robertson explains how believers in Jesus can live out The Great Commission (of spreading the Gospel) in everyday life situations. His own father's life was turned around after a preacher sought him out while in a bar.

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You can always tell how important something is by the priority placed on

it. In Genesis, the very first chapter of the first book of the Bible, God

establishes a family, Adam and Eve. The very first thing God does in the New

Testament is the merging of family between Mary and Joseph in the birth of

Christ. And the very first miracle Jesus performs is at a wedding, the wedding

at Cana. It is now officially wedding season, in the month of June more

weddings will take place than at any other time of the year. But how do you

ensure that a beautiful wedding with all the pomp and pageantry creates a

strong marriage, where husband and wife move forward joyfully in whole-life

oneness? Enter Fr. Nicholas Louh and Dr. Roxanne Louh. Fr. Nick is a Greek

Orthodox Priest who's presided over the nuptials of scores of couples. His wife

Dr. Roxanne Louh is a clinical psychologist and family therapist who sees many

of those couples after the luster has worn off the glitz of the wedding and a

life of children, careers and financial strains complicated their "happily

ever after". On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, the Louhs talk

about how to overcome difficulties in marriage, even some of the

worst things that could happen, like an adulterous affair. But more

importantly, how God's design for marriage is the key to a strong marriage, one

that truly is, "for better or for worse."

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Eden Gefner was born and raised in Kibbutz Reim in Israel, just three miles from the border with Gaza. On October 7th, her life changed from being a normal 28-year-old thinking about her future, to believing she was now in the Holocaust, that she and her family would die, just for being Jews. But instead, she and her mother, father, and boyfriend narrowly survived the Hamas attack. Hiding in the safe room and holding tight to the door, they heard automatic gunfire break the front door, a terrorist searching their home and finally, a tug on the door. Eden says it was a miracle they survived when so much death surrounded them. On their community "WhatsApp" chain a neighbor is yelling to help two children who just saw their father gunned down in front of them, others are giving updates on how many Hamas terrorists are surrounding the Kibbutz. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, we travel to East Hampton, New York to interview Eden just before she told her story of survival to a small group at Chabad of the Hamptons. It's part of the Faces of October 7th Project, which aims to "humanize the consequences of terrorism and challenge the support that terrorist organizations like Hamas have garnered, particularly among young people."

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Imagine all the love you've experienced in your entire life, from parents, spouses, friends, family, and then multiply it a thousand times. That's the kind of love experienced by people who've had Near Death Experiences; they report being in the presence of God. NDE's, as they are known, are scientifically recognized phenomenon that occur when people are clinically dead and see visions of themselves, their bodies as paramedics try to revive them, doctors as they operate, or even family members in waiting rooms. Some even describe scenes they couldn't possibly have seen except supernaturally. But the one commonality: a love that is so deep and so complete they never want to return to their lives. It's the love they, and probably all of us, are searching for. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, John Burke, best-selling author of "Imagine Heaven" and now his follow-up "Imagine the God of Heaven," explains that millions of people from all different faith traditions, cultures, and educational backgrounds have had NDE's. But the vast majority report similar events, a welcoming benevolent Light and a Love that penetrates the deepest recesses of their souls. Burke says the only explanation is, it's evidence of not only the reality of God, but also God's relentless love. As the Scriptures say, "A love that surpasses all understanding."

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It is hard to fight against an enemy whose reason for being is to eliminate you. So says author Rick Richman, as he answers the criticism leveled against Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. It is Israel, he says, that is trying to prevent a genocidal operation perpetrated by Hamas. Richman, the author of  "And None Shall Make Them Afraid: Eight Stories of the Modern State of Israel,"  says the anti-Israel, pro-Palestinian protests are filled with misinformation and misguided passions by young people, students and even faculty, lured into a political position by authorities who choose to ignore the facts surrounding the centuries of clashes between Jews and Arabs and its modern day manifestations. On this episode of Lighthouse Faith podcast, Richman talks about a long list of topics concerning Israel, including: the ongoing protests on college campuses and why so many are ignorant of what Zionism actually is, Zionism and Americanism, the two great "isms" of the 20th century, that Palestine was never an independent state, why Arabs rejected having their own independent state six times including in 1947, reaction to claims that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, and war crimes by Hamas as they use their own people, innocents, as human shields. Jews, says Richman, are the "canary in the proverbial coal mine", what happens to them is only the start. Islamic militants will not stop with them until the world is converted to its rule.

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