Solid Steps Radio

#407 Guest Jim Russell Meets His Idol Zig Ziglar And Everything Changes Forever 11/17/23 by Solid Steps Radio Kurt Sauder Chad Russell

"The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.”-GK Chesterton Most 16 year olds these days are thinking about getting a drivers license. On this weeks show, we met a man who signed up to go to off to fight in WWII when he was 16. On a special Veterans Day show, Kurt and Chad talk to 3 veterans - Ed Conn, Harvey Cantrell, and Colonel Don Waddell from the WWII, Korean, and Vietnam War eras. Why was it like to be so young and be willing to leave behind all you know? What did they learn about going to war? Truly the Greatest Generation. (This is a repeat episode - enjoy!)

“Train how you fight and fight like you train” - Robert McKenzie, Major Battalion Executive Officer, United States Army, retired. “More you sweat the less you bleed.” “You don’t rise to the occasion, you sink to the level of training.”- Jason Deming, 3rd generation Silver Star recipient as a Green Beret in the United States Army. Normandy Beach. Vietnam. Iraq.

All of these are locations on a map that people could probably find geographically. But these are also places where men and women have made sacrifices that have changed countries and families lives, forever.

What does it take for someone to be in the military? How does it change them? What about their family? On this week show, Army veterans Robert McKenzie and Jason Deming talk about life before the military, during and after, and give us an inside peek of what life in the military means for them, and their families. From the “world’s largest bed and breakfast” of feeding and refueling 18,000 soldiers to almost 2000 jumps from an airplane for a single person, Robert and Jason talk about what civilians don’t see, but receive the benefits from the service of many brave men and women.

Topics include:

-Why they entered the military?

-How the experience helped them when they reunited back to the states.

-Effects on their family.

-Green beret roles vs. other special forces

-What role did your faith play in your service?

“God created government, man created politics…Government role is to protect people from evil and those who won’t govern themselves…if you’re not doing politics, politics is going to be doing something to you.” - John Hodgson, Kentucky State Representative District 36 (Eastern Jefferson County)

Religion and politics. Two things that we’ve been told, over the decades, not to talk about. But when you look at the landscape of our culture today, the results of the lack of discussion on those two things are playing out in front of our eyes every day, to our detriment. On this weekends show, Kentucky representative, John Hodgson, State Representative District 36, talks about the importance of local elections, the impact and role of a governor, and what makes a good governor. With about half of the people who are eligible to vote NOT voting for different reasons, turn out is what makes an election successful, for the ones that turn out to vote. (This is a repeat episode - enjoy!)

Topics discussed:

- History and origin of dictatorships

- Why the role of governor matters

- About 1/2 of the people who are eligible to vote will vote

- The influence of the Governors appointments on our day to day, especially with schools

- The importance of the 2023 Kentucky elections are for the national political scenes

- The most important way to help get the vote out (Hint: Person to person contact!)

“I never quit.”-Robert McKenzie

Born to birth parents who put you up for adoption, in foster care for over a year, and you’re adopted family, after one year, your adopted mother leaves you to be raised by an alcoholic father and a grandmother. Not the start to one’s life that would lead you to believe success is in your future, but God… On this week’s show, Robert McKenzie talks about his journey of abandonment, reconciliation, second chances, brokenness, and redemption, and how God used working in oil fields, 23 years in the military, competitive powerlifting, and coffee shops to be ministered to, and to minister to other people. Much of the trajectory of Robert’s life changed on a simple invitation from a neighborhood family age 13. The moral of the story: Don’t quit, it’s never too late for God.

“Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, ‘So shall your offspring be’.”
(Romans 4:18) On this week’s show, Dr. Eric Schansberg continues his walk through Genesis as he covers the life of Abraham, revered for his faith, but also known for his faults. What can we learn from this giant of the faith in the Old Testament that applies to us today? (This is a repeat episode - enjoy!)

“God created government, man created politics…Government role is to protect people from evil and those who won’t govern themselves…if you’re not doing politics, politics is going to be doing something to you.” - John Hodgson, Kentucky State Representative District 36 (Eastern Jefferson County) Religion and politics. Two things that we’ve been told, over the decades, not to talk about. But when you look at the landscape of our culture today, the results of the lack of discussion on those two things are playing out in front of our eyes every day, to our detriment. On this weekends show, Kentucky representative, John Hodgson, State Representative District 36, talks about the importance of local elections, the impact and role of a governor, and what makes a good governor. With about half of the people who are eligible to vote NOT voting for different reasons, turn out is what makes an election successful, for the ones that turn out to vote.

Topics discussed:

- History and origin of dictatorships

- Why the role of governor matters

- About 1/2 of the people who are eligible to vote will vote

- The influence of the Governors appointments on our day to day, especially with schools

- The importance of the 2023 Kentucky elections are for the national political scenes

- The most important way to help get the vote out (Hint: Person to person contact!)

“Fortnite keeps me in business.”- Brent Colwick, Child Therapist. When past generations hung out with friends (as children), the worst they would see was an R rated movie on late night cable. Or they might find a magazine hidden away in a closet. Things have changed for today’s generation. They have access to the some of the most addictive and mind polluting images in history, and it’s in their pockets, or in their bedroom. On this week’s show, Kurt and Chad talk with therapist Brent Colwick ( Brentcolwick.com ) about the negative effects that poisonous images and too much screen time can bring. (This is a repeat episode - enjoy!)

“From the fall of man, the rest of the Bible is the story of man coming back to the tree of life. ”Question: What is the most mentioned living thing in the Bible, other than God and people? Answer: Trees On this week’s show, author Matthew Sleeth MD (MatthewSleethMD.com) talks about his new book “Reforesting Faith - what trees teach us about the nature and love of God.” Matthew reminds us that the tree is THE major metaphor in the Bible. Every main character and event in the Bible is associated with or linked to a tree. Yet over the years, trees have been eradicated from the scriptures by theologians. Why? Matthew gives us a unique and powerful perspective on something that God loves very dearly. He says,“God loves trees, He gives them a ring on every one of their birthdays.” (This is a repeat episode - enjoy!)

In 1988 the Kentucky deer herds had grown beyond carrying capacity in some areas and biologists were encouraging additional doe harvest. This led to discussions between a few avid hunters who wanted to oblige wildlife management but had concerns about what to do with extra venison that they didn't have room to store or would exceed what their small families could consume. Sharing nature's bounty with those less fortunate seemed a natural choice and after a bit of research they discovered that donating meat to the needy was the answer. That fall Hunters for the Hungry was born as hunters joined with processors and food banks to supply donated meat to the needy. (From the website: www.kyhuntersforthehungry.info ) On this week’s show, Kurt and Chad welcome Ky Hunters for the Hungry President Roger Lapointe about how KHftH has helped to serve millions of meals for Kentuckians. From the field dressing of the deer to the plates of those in need, the guys talk about God’s provision through deer and people. (This is a repeat episode - enjoy!)