The Better Roads Podcast

Bob Laflin is gifted by God to see and impart insightful truths to people. He has been walking in faithfulness with this gift, sometimes referred to as words of knowledge, for many years. The Holy Spirit frequently shows Bob pictures, words, or dates about individuals which he shares with them. Sometimes he may not even know the full significance of those words, but they are revealing to the people who receive them. In this episode of Better Roads, Randall and Bob discuss how this gift works through Bob, about excesses that sometimes occur when people either presume upon the Holy Spirit or go beyond what the Spirit has revealed to them. They visit about the circus-like atmosphere that is sometimes created, never glorifying to the Lord, and about how people who are discovering the Lord has similarly gifted them can begin to step out and grow in a gift of the Spirit in a manner that is pleasing to the Lord. Bob and Randall also candidly visit about Bob’s present physical reality of multiple sclerosis, which keeps him homebound. How does Bob process the contrast between the fact that God manifests His power through Bob and yet Bob’s freedom to minister has been greatly curtailed because of MS. What is God up to? All in this episode of Better Roads.

Jessica Sanford is a life coach. More foundational than her training as a coach is how God wired and prepared her for this role. She is quietly reflective and insightful. She’s not the first person to speak, but she is an astute and careful listener. In this episode of Better Roads Randall and Jessica discuss the journey on which the Lord has guided her and how she has learned to be a good listener and tune to the Holy Spirit’s frequency in hearing people at a heart level. Jessica describes her passion about discovering this coaching avenue of serving God. She also shares about the pivotal, better roads she has chosen in life and the impact those choices continue to have today. 

How does a professional pharmacist who is a mother of six children, wife of a pastor, and a homeschooling partner with her husband keep her life organized and sane? Enter exhibit A: Mone Cavan. In this episode of Better Roads Randall and Mone converse about the multiple challenges upon Mone’s plate and how she maintains personal balance in spirituality, love and discipline with the kids, schooling, home chores, and relationship with Chris, her husband. Does she get any sleep? When is her favorite time of the day? What responsibilities do the children assume? How does she think about and process her busy life? Join Randall in exploring the thriving life and well-being of Mone Cavan, on Better Roads.

Kelley Mast and his wife, Hannah, passionately love and care about children. In addition to serving as an assistant pastor in Kearney, Nebraska, Kelley serves at a nonprofit that encourages and facilitates foster care of children. He is continually learning about children’s needs and stories and helping prospective foster care parents discover and navigate a pathway to serving. Kelley and Hannah do much more than talk. They walk out their passion, having served as both foster and adoptive parents. They heard from God and are following Him, not always knowing where that will lead. How does a couple prayerfully consider and begin the process of foster parenting? Are there people who should not become foster parents? What are the challenges and rewards? In this episode of Better Roads, Randall and Kelley discuss foster parenting, the Masts’ journey, and the Better Roads Kelley has chosen that were pivotal to who and what he is today. 

Victoria Bates loves to worship. It is at the core of who she is and the purpose for which she lives. In this episode of Better Roads, Randall and Victoria explore the genesis and pathway that led to her becoming the passionate worshiper and worship leader that she is today. As Victoria emphasizes, singing is but one aspect of worship, but it is the expression through which the Holy Spirit uses her to minister to others. Victoria and Randall converse about the difference between worship and performance, what to do when someone sincerely wants to be part of a worship team but cannot sing, and why some songs may not be appropriate or a fit for a congregation. What constitutes good worship? What contributes to it and what distracts from it? Victoria is lovingly direct in sharing from her heart about worship. 

Ron and Linda Wilson were quite an at-large missionary team. Ron retired early from his successful career as an insurance company executive in order to respond to the Lord’s call upon his life. He never looked back, demonstrating how God had gifted him in connecting with people and pursuing big vision. Linda was the “nuts and bolts” member of the team, helping Ron’s visions come to reality. After Ron endured years of repeated health crises God welcomed him to his heavenly reward. For Linda the question was, “Now what?” She knew the answer. She was to carry on with a special, loving focus on the nation of India. Doors of opportunity have been slamming shut for Christians in India but, like Ron, Linda is not easily discouraged. She is pressing on, retrofitting some of the Wilsons’ vision into new forms and into more acceptable definitions and vocabulary in India. In this episode of Better Roads Linda shares about her journey, from the grief of losing Ron, who was her shining star, to innovatively carrying on the missionary work they launched together.

Derek Sissel is a supreme multitasker. He pastors a church in Colorado and a church in Florida, plus serves as executive director for Mountain Plains Region of Open Bible Churches. How does a leader juggle so many responsibilities? How does that work for his family? Are there key principles for balancing so many responsibilities? In this episode of Better Roads Randall converses with Derek about his life journey, how Christ apprehended him, and about the better roads he has taken that impact who he is and what he does today.

Christi Armstrong is the Executive Director of World Relief in Spokane, Washington. World Relief is committed to helping refugees from around the world who have either lost their homeland or fear for their lives to continue living there. A credentialed minister with Open Bible Churches, Christi has a heart of compassion for refugees and the agency she leads in Spokane helps to find housing, clothing, food, and jobs for newly arrived, displaced people. In the episode of Better Roads, Randall and Christi talk about how much refugees are just like us. They care about their kids. They want to best for their families. They want to maintain responsibility for caring for their families. And, they are so appreciative of this nation for opening its protective arms to them. They are not looking for handouts. That is why Christi emphasizes caring about their dignity and peace, two fundamentals of life for all human beings. The story of refugees is not a border crossings matter; it is an ongoing story of people who have been carefully vetted and receive some of the very limited number of acceptance notices that are provided by the government. You don’t hear much about this ministry, but it is a moving one. Pull up with your cup of coffee and learn about what God is doing through this.

Dan Powell worked his way up the corporate ladder as a CPA with a Fortune 500 company. But he walked away from that career ladder to become a pastor, while still retaining his CPA certification. In this edition of Better Roads Randall and Dan discuss what happened that caused Dan to take such a huge step. How did his wife and family receive that decision? Do his skills and experience as a CPA help him as a pastor? Does he ever long to return to working with numbers? Join Randall in learning more about Dan Powell, the CPA turned pastor, on Better Roads.

Chris Hansler is the executive director for Pacific Region Open Bible Churches. Before assuming the regional role, he and his wife, Lisa, to whom he had been married for 36 years, had been youth pastors and church planters while raising four children. Now empty nesters, this new role would be a wonderful opportunity for them.

Instead the word cancer invaded their plans when Lisa received the diagnosis from her doctor. Every tool in medicine’s arsenal was applied to defeat the evil disease. Prayers were offered from around the world, and yet Lisa was transported to heaven even earlier than doctors had expected. How do you deal with such an immense loss of a beloved spouse? How do you carry on in ministry when it has always been the two of you doing everything together? Chris is still navigating through those questions and more as part of the grieving process. Nonetheless he transparently and vulnerably converses with Randall about his journey in this edition of Better Roads. If you are dealing with loss in your life or have ever been at that point, this conversation will minister to your heart.