Programs And Podcasts

My next door neighbor in our dorm in college always wanted to preach like Billy Graham. I mean he really wanted to preach like Billy Graham. He would record Billy Graham on his radio program, and then he would listen to the tapes over and over again. He would copy everything, including even the inflections of Billy’s voice. And then he would watch Billy Graham. He studied his gestures; he’d try to get them down and gesture just when Billy Graham would. He’d hold his Bible like Billy Graham. Now you are going to think he was really a fanatic, but this really is true. He told me he even counted the words per minute that Billy Graham averaged and tried to get the same pace. Wow! That’s a crazy way to approach ministry, huh? Well, it’s more common than you might think.

I’m Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “You Be You.”

Our word for today from the Word of God – one of the most challenging, exciting statements in all of the New Testament – is in Ephesians 2:10. This is about you now. “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Wow! God has created you as a unique, one-of-a-kind servant, uniquely prepared, uniquely wired by Him for a very unique set of plans which He prepared in advance for you to carry out.

The problem comes when we start to compare ourselves with other people. You really can’t compare yourself because you are a category all by yourself. You might never count the words per minute in somebody’s sermon to copy them, but maybe you are looking at someone else God is using and you’re saying, “You know, I can’t talk like that. I don’t know what they know. I’m sort of shy; I’m not that outgoing. You know, I don’t have the training they have. I could never serve God like that; I’m not like that person.” You’re right! You’re not like them. Hurray! You weren’t meant to be. You were created for works only you can do.

I think we should look for models and learn from their values and their thinking and their ways of working, but not to become clones. The Mona Lisa is an original, it’s priceless, but you can buy a postcard of the Mona Lisa for like 50 cents at the museum, because copies are cheap. Originals are priceless. Don’t devalue yourself by copying someone else; trying to be like someone else. There’s so much in social media that makes us want to do that. Don’t do it! That’s an awful, unnatural bondage if you’re still trying to be like someone else.

You see, everything you need - to do what God put you here to do - you have. And all those things that you don’t have? Guess what? You don’t need. You’ve got the right hair, you’ve got the right height, you’ve got the right body, you’ve got the right voice, you’ve got the right intelligence, you’ve got the right talents, and you’ve got the right limitations - even your background. See, God is using your background to make you into that unique servant of His. He’s weaving a tapestry, and putting into that tapestry the people and experiences that will make you the man or woman you were designed by Him to be.

So be yourself! Relax! Be the person that God made for a unique role that you are destined to fulfill. You compare with somebody else? You’ll never get off the ground. You try to copy someone else, and you will never be the person you were created to be.

I think you can say as you look at your life and the plans that God has for it, “God, you know what You’re doing.” He sure does. Thank Him for making you the only you there is, and don’t try to be a Christian clone. You are an original. So, you be you.

This hour we take a look at why classrooms have become hot-spots of controversy all across the nation. Sarah Parshall Perry will discuss why antisemitism, viewpoint discrimination and progressive ideologies are replacing education with indoctrination. She will help parents discover how to “look well to the ways of their household”.

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Not every threat to the Church comes from the outside. In this sobering message from Jude, Dr. Michael Youssef warns that false teachers often blend in—speaking Christian words while twisting the Gospel and resisting the authority of Scripture.

These enemies of the Faith:

Jude gives three clear warning signs—three ancient paths that still show up today:

Dr. Youssef calls believers to let the inerrant Word of God rule over every belief and every decision. This is not a time for naïve tolerance. It is a time to discern, repent of compromise, intercede, and contend for the Gospel of Jesus Christ alone.

Scripture Focus: Jude 8-11

 If today’s teaching stirred a question, burden, or need for prayer, you don’t have to walk through it alone. 

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The longer something is delayed, the easier it can be to doubt it will ever happen. Dr. Tony Evans explains why God’s promises remain certain and why the reality of eternity calls for an urgent response.

Many retirees spend decades building equity in their homes. But could that equity become a wise tool for stewardship in the next season of life?

For many people, the words reverse mortgage raise immediate concerns. Some of those concerns come from outdated information, past abuses, or even a sense of guilt about taking on debt later in life. But is it possible that some retirees have dismissed this option too quickly?

Harlan Accola, who leads the reverse mortgage team at Movement Mortgage, joined the show today to help separate myth from reality and explain how today’s reverse mortgages may fit into a broader financial plan for some homeowners.

Reverse mortgages have carried a strong stigma for years, and according to Accola, some of that reputation was deserved.

In the past, there were bad products, bad actors, weak regulation, and not enough consumer protections. Those stories have been passed down through families, churches, and communities, shaping the way many people think about reverse mortgages today.

But Accola says today’s reverse mortgages are very different, especially when handled by qualified professionals and governed by stronger safeguards.

Much of the fear surrounding reverse mortgages is based on outdated information. Many people assume that taking out a reverse mortgage means losing ownership of their home. But that is not how the product works.

A reverse mortgage is simply a lien on the property. The homeowner does not lose ownership of the home, and monthly payments are not required. Instead, the loan is repaid later, usually when the borrower sells the home, moves out, or passes away.

That distinction matters because many retirees may be making decisions based on fear rather than accurate information.

Another common concern is that reverse mortgages are simply “bad debt.” But Accola points out that not all debt functions the same way.

Most people would not have been able to build wealth through homeownership if they had waited until they could pay for their first house in cash. A traditional mortgage often allows families to purchase a home, build equity, and create long-term stability.

Of course, some debt can be dangerous. Credit card debt, high-interest loans, and unnecessary consumer debt can quickly become burdensome. Proverbs 22:7 reminds us, “The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.” That warning should lead us to approach debt with humility and caution.

But a reverse mortgage is different from many other forms of debt because it does not require mandatory monthly payments. That feature may provide flexibility for retirees who are trying to manage cash flow, reduce pressure on investment accounts, or remain in their homes without selling.

This does not mean a reverse mortgage is right for everyone. It simply means the question should not be answered by fear or assumptions alone. The better question is whether this tool serves wise stewardship in a specific family’s situation.

For many believers, the hesitation is not only financial—it is spiritual.

Some Christians have heard the message that being debt-free automatically makes someone more faithful or responsible. While there is great wisdom in eliminating unnecessary debt, that does not mean every form of debt is morally the same.

Accola notes that many retirees still carry mortgage debt into retirement. In fact, many homeowners reach retirement age without having paid off their homes entirely. Others may own their homes but need additional income flexibility.

In those situations, shame can become a barrier to wisdom. A retiree may think, “I should have done better,” or “I must not be faithful if I st

Gary Chapman gets the rollercoaster of parenting teens. Grab his thoughtful ideas to help you evolve alongside your kids in a critical stage of development.

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If you really believed Jesus could come back at any moment, would it change how you live today? That’s what Pastor Greg Laurie explores on this edition of A NEW BEGINNING. It’s not about guessing dates or decoding headlines, it’s about being ready. Pastor Greg offers some fresh perspective, and a helpful reminder that Jesus isn’t coming back for a perfect person, just a prepared one. So open your Bible, and join us for a hopeful look at the signs of the times.

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