“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 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!)

“Understanding Passover means understanding deliverance.”- John Weiner.

“This is my body….” When Jesus said those words, he was practicing a Jewish tradition called Passover, remembering the grace and work of God for the Jewish people hundreds of years before. But this was a different Passover than had ever happened before. One that would change the course of humanity for eternity.

On this weeks show, messianic Jew John Weiner talks about his Jewish upbringing and background, his hearing the gospel for the first time, and why the Passover should mean something to us even today, 2000 years after Jesus’s last passover with his disciples.

Imagine you wake up, thinking about what you have to do for the day. You go about your routine, which includes going out for a run before you go to work. Now imagine it’s the end of the day, and you’re lying in a hospital https://www.bankofamerica.com/index.jsp bed, drifting in and out of consciousness, about to die from blood loss. The doctors are using the word “miracle” to describe that you are even alive. “It happened so fast!” you think to yourself. On this week’s show, Kurt and Chad talk to Josh Stuber about the day that changed his life forever. A day of incredible loss, but also an opportunity to gain something that he may have never been able to without the accident: perspective.

(This is a repeat episode - enjoy!)

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1 NIV If we are free why do we sometimes feel like we are living in bondage? Condemning thoughts, compulsive behavior, personal conflict, and spiritual despair can be struggles we all face on a regular basis. Is that just something we have to live with? On this week’s show, Kurt and Chad talk about a rich resource called The Steps to Freedom in Christ by Neil Anderson (Freedom in Christ ministries (https://ficm.org). Truth, forgiveness, submission, humility, freedom. How do we experience those in a world that seem to be going in the opposite direction? (To schedule available times with Kurt or find out more about having a freedom appointment, go to furtherstillministries.org) (This is a repeat episode - enjoy!)

“All of humanity's problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone.” - Blaise Pascal. Why does being alone strike fear in our hearts? Maybe always being “connected” isn’t healthy. On this week’s show, Kurt and Chad talk about Soul Retreats - put on by Further Still Ministries. The retreats are a 2 year journey - learning to live at a pace and rhythm of life that cares for our soul. Current soul retreat participants Sarah Sheets and Rachael Loy join Chad and Kurt to discuss their experience with the retreats. (This is a repeat episode - enjoy!)

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

Psalms 90:12 NIV

“ For the average man you’ve got about 4000 weeks of life.”- Dr Jerry Rabalais, U of L professor of school of medicine

29,000 days. 4,000 weeks. 960 months.

That’s the average for the man that lives to be 80 years old. We’re not guaranteed tomorrow, but most men will live to be at or around 80 years old. What purpose are you living for and how do you reach a life of fulfillment and number of our days from a biblical perspective?

On this week show, university of Louisville medical professor, Dr. Jerry Rabalais talks with Kurt and Chad about how to live with purpose and longevity in mind. More than just how’s your blood pressure, what are the things that contribute to a man living a long and fulfilling life?

Topics include:

-How impactful loneliness is in a person longevity

-The relationship between longevity and close relationships

-A 30 year Harvard study that can be summed up in 3 words. (It’s something that Jesus taught 2000 years ago.)

Imagine you’re 29 years old and just received a 35 year prison sentence. You do the math, and know you’re going to be in your 60’s before you are a free man. How could you possibly have any hope for your future? On this week’s show, Chad and Kurt talk with Darrell Davis - founder of The Prisoners Hope ministry www.theprisonershope.life. He spent almost half of his life behind bars. Darrell talks about his journey from convicted felon to free man, a freedom he experienced even while still in jail. But his journey to freedom had some twists and turns. God’s plans and timing were not the same as Darrell’s, and it couldn’t have turned out any better.

(This is a repeat episode - enjoy!)

“Freedom isn't free.” That's a bumper sticker for some people, but it's been a way of life for the men, women and families of the United States military. On this weeks, Kurt and Chad sit down with veterans Don Waddell (Air Force, Vietnam) and Derek Henricks (West Point, Army, Afghanistan). Don and Derek talk about their experiences and perspectives on military service and the high cost of freedom - for the veterans, and for their families as well. (This is a repeat episode - enjoy!)

“Spare the rod, spoil the child." (Proverbs 13:24) That proverb was written by King Solomon centuries ago. Is the idea of spanking as old as the phrase? Is there a place for spanking in the families of today? On this week’s show, Chad and Kurt continue the study of the book Shepherding a Child's Heart (by Tedd Tripp). They talk with Family Pastor Bryan Elliott and Family Counselor Chad Stettler (Olive Branch Family Counseling https://m.facebook.com/Olivebranchfamilycounseling/ ) about what good discipline looks like, as well as what it shouldn't look like. The ultimate goal is getting to the heart of the child, not just managing their behavior. Kurt shares the story of how he explained gospel of Christ in a powerful way to one of his children during a spanking. It’s one of the most moving segments on the show (4th segment, it's worth checking out at least to hear the story.) (This is a repeat episode - enjoy!)

“ I swore off playing basketball ever again.” -Phil Morrison

Imagine growing up with dreams of playing basketball professionally, only to quit after your first year of college, thinking you’d never pick up a ball again—then years later, finding yourself playing in front of 54,000 people.

This week on the show, Kurt and Chad welcome Phil Morrison—founder of Hoops For Christ ( https://hoopsforchrist.org ), basketball instructor, and missionary—to share his incredible journey through the game of basketball. After a successful high school career, Phil had the opportunity to play college basketball. But after just one year, he walked away, giving up his dream of playing professionally. Then, a life-altering encounter with God changed everything. With a new sense of purpose, Phil found his way back to the game, playing at Asbury College, where he became an All-American and the first player in school history to go pro.

His career took him overseas, where he played for multiple teams—and eventually, he found himself on a court in the Philippines, fulfilling a dream he once had in his sleep, playing in front of 54,000 fans.

From quitting basketball to meeting God and his future wife at the same event, to playing around the world and launching a global ministry, Phil’s journey has been about more than just the game. It’s a story only God could write—and it’s still being written.