Gran & Matt "Faith, Fatherhood & TV Dads"

This week on the Keep Diggin' Podcast Gran & Matt talk Fatherhood and Faith. We talk about the importance of training up our children in the footsteps of Christ, and how we do so by helping them develop a solid foundation in faith. We also talk about how we need to take care of our own spirit by finding solid Christian tools, and groups of men that we can do life with, lock arms with, in hopes they can help us, and we can help support them when the problems of fatherhood arise. In the end, we want to make sure our kids are loved, educated in Christ and cared for, with hope they use these same lessons taught to become strong parents one day, creating a great environment for our grandchildren then.

Matt will also challenge Gran to a fun game of Name That Show by naming a TV dad, and Gran must provide the TV show name. You'll enjoy this thoroughly, lol.

To get the latest info on the Podcast: facebook.com/keepdigginpodcast

This episode was sponsored by our friends at Yeager Funeral in Ligonier, Indiana. 

Visit their website for more info at yeagerfuneralhome.com

In this episode, Gran introduces his new co-host to the show, Matt Gaff, and they talk to John McKee of The Window in Goshen, Indiana. John is a servant and leader at The Window, a non-profit food & clothing pantry, and he opens up about his job, experiences serving those in their biggest time of need, the homeless, and we can all help others be blessed with something simple like a can of food. We also play a fun food filled version of our game "Would You Rather" and learn more about the the bearded man serving so many people in need, filling both their stomachs and their souls for Jesus!

In this episode Gran sits down with long time friend and fellow broadcaster, Matt Gaff. They talk about their friendship, their years in radio as teenage DJ's at Cow Country 102.7. We take a deep dive into the troubles, the pride and jealousies that developed between them and ultimately lead to them having a fallout as friends. We also learn how broadcasting shaped their life and their faith through some tough times to get them to where they are today as Christians, husbands and father. We will also talk about how they reconnected after nearly 25 years and what is in store for the Dynamic Duo of Keep Diggin' as Matt is introduced as the new co-host of the show!

"Christian's don't look at porn..." A lie from the devil himself. We as Christians are wired like anyone else, wired to sin, and to the Christian man, there is nothing more attractive that the female form. Addictive really, but how do we control our lust and desires? Porn use and addiction is probably the most widespread sin among men within the church, with 75% of church going men openly admitting they have looked at porn on a weekly basis. This leaves me to wonder how many still struggle with it, yet are not openly admitting their struggle. Porn use is so dangerous because we are in the age of instant gratification with porn available as close as our fingertips on our cell phones, knowing this, it is still a taboo subject for the church to talk about as a whole, and often its something church men, and women, struggle with very secretly. Its our most secret of sins and rarely comes to light unless it is addressed by the individual struggling with it, much like my guests today we are talking with, Kyle & Chad. Is there victory in overcoming the lustful desires of pornography and if so, how do you recruit our wives to help us as Christian men, find victory and overcome this addictive sin in our lives.

Often we as Christians are quick to try to prove our faith to others, especially those who dont believe like we do, such as Agnostics and Atheists. When this happens, often it ends in arguments, bad feelings and misunderstandings. We need to learn to handle these situations as learning opportunities and how to better understand those with similar belief sets. Its a lesson in Apologetics in a lot of ways, and what better way to understand the Agnostic belief set than to talk to one in our own circle of friends. I think we as Christians have forgot to agree to disagree. I think you will learn something from this conversation and clear up and misunderstandings we might have concerning our Agnostic friends, and to learn how to be less judgmental, and more loving toward them.

Punk Rock and Christianity usually don't go hand in hand, but Grave Robber is proving that theory wrong! When used as a ministry tool and taken into secular venues, this can be a powerful thing to make an incredible impact to an audience in need of Jesus. This week Gran sits down with Shawn Browning of Grave Robber. We learn about how Grave Robber came to be and how they incorporate the gospel into their own brand of horror punk rock music. We also talk about their use of skeleton costumes, and a unique vocabulary they have created that both speaks to those in the punk rock crowd, but also to Christians.  

This episode will feature their songs:

"Fill This Place With Blood"

"Reanimator"

"Zombieland"

We will also talk about how they successfully bring the Gospel to the masses on secular stages, in clubs on the road, and abroad in countries like Mexico. We learn about their characters, the trials and their successes along the way.

Addiction is an ugly thing. Imagine serving your country in Iraq, defeat the enemy, and then come home to a losing battle against drug addiction. For any soldier, a battle lost is hard to accept, and defeat is even harder to handle than most feelings. Add Meth to that situation and it takes an already tough situation and makes it feel as if all hope is lost. 

Like any soldier, Wayne Christlieb has fought his battles in his life, but none has been tougher to him than his fight against Meth addiction. What started out as a recreational habit with marijuana and alcohol soon lead to a meth addiction that nearly took his life, his marriage, and his children from his life. This was one battle that Wayne didn't want to lose. The cost was too high.

After saying enough is enough, Wayne enrolled in Western Michigan Teen/Adult Challenge in Muskegon, Michigan. This is a year long, live-in program that is Christ based and allows people like Wayne to reset in life, and get help for their addiction. Throughout this year Wayne learned how much God loved him, increased his faith and learned how to fight this addiction through faith, love,, family, accountability and relationships. The man that entered this program was a much different man that left this program. Gran talks with Wayne about his modern day Saul conversion on his own personal road to Damascus so to speak, and how God used this program to give Wayne victory over his drug use, and Meth addiction!

Thanks for the continued support and feel free to share, rate & review the podcast and/or listen to it at keepdigginp.bodbean.com. Until next week, just keep fighting, and just...keep...diggin'!

Do you ever wish you could sing but cant? Some people have the great gift of singing in their lives and are a true joy to listen to and enjoy. Its even greater when that person can use their gift to praise and worship God, and give others an avenue to a greater joy in their faith and help make that connection with God. A gift like this doesn't always come easy, and requires a lot of work, practice and patience, but what do you do when the trials of life rob you of this joy and gift?

From the age of four Amanda Baugh performed onstage at her church in Central Florida, but life took her through some painful struggles; sexual abuse as a child, drugs, stage fright, being a single mom and then losing her father to Cancer. Its hard to imagine how things could get much worse, and how she could overcome so much grief and struggle. Through God and his forgiveness, Amanda was able to overcome all of this, and succeed in picking up the mic again, ending years of torment and fear. 

Today Amanda Baugh travels the Midwest, Mexico among other places, singing, praising God and making a joyful noise. Amanda's life and testimony is one of overcoming fear and pain, and rising up from the ashes to sing and praise God in a mighty way. Gran sits with Amanda and we document her journey, her struggle, and recovery from all of these trials of life, and her journey back to the microphone once again. We will also spotlight her song "Hold On" in this episode.

Thanks for the continued support and feel free to share, rate & review the podcast and/or listen to it at keepdigginp.bodbean.com. Until next week, just keep fighting, and just...keep...diggin'!

In this episode Gran sits down with Kyle & Arielle Black, and talks about their 4 year old son, Christian, and his 2 year long battle with Cancer, and the realities of the situation and how they deal with it as parents, and as a couple. We talk about the journey, the struggles, the scary times, but most importantly, the blessings! They tell us about the multiple blessings they have seen God work in their lives, how Christian is doing and what is to come. The courage of this pint-sized prayer warrior can't be denied! This episode will inspire and help you see how God is working in your life during times of worry, and in the serious trials of life, and shows that there really is strength in weakness.

In this episode Gran sits down with Ball State University College Freshman, Maddie Hilbish. We talk about what it is like to prepare for college as a young, Christian female, what it was like to adjust to living independently and the struggles that come with that, the peer pressure, the alcohol and sexual temptations of college life, and how Maddie is successfully avoiding those pressures due to her faith, and getting connected into a great group of likeminded Christians. This is a great episode for high school students looking to go to college, college students and parents of incoming college students.