Utah's Hope

Using nerd culture to share Christ, plus Scripture’s solution to addiction and strongholds, and what to do about Bible study cliques.  

Featured musical artist:  Tauren Wells

Roundtable: Bringing Jesus Into Your Nerdy Hobbies

Fantasy novels. Video games. Cosplay. There is a growing fascination among young adults for what we call nerd culture. If you’re nerdy and proud, what does that mean for you as a Christian? Are there any concerns with content in this genre? And is there a way to bring Jesus into it? Three of our nerdiest friends are ready to dish and defend all things nerd and talk about creative and practical ways to have fun in this world while inviting God into it. 

The Theology of… Pokémon  

The Theology of… Halo 

The Theology of… The Lord of the Rings 

The Theology of… Final Destination 

Send Us Your Show Ideas

Leave Us a Voicemail

Watch This Segment on YouTube

Culture: Strongholds and Scripture

Have you ever done a Bible study on the topic of addiction and bad habits? Well, now you can. Dr. Karl Benzio and Rose Ann Forte have written one, and are here to talk about it as well as why God’s Word is the answer to the strongholds, false beliefs and besetting behaviors that hold us prisoner. Whether alcohol or drugs, sex, bitterness and anger or something else, finding hope in Scripture, journaling gratitude, rewiring your thought patterns and practicing new rhythms will get you unstuck. Here’s to real and radical change in 2026!

 Transformed by His Promises: A 12-Week Devotional for Freedom from the Psychological Slavery of Life-Interfering Behaviors            

Link to Counseling Services 

Find More About Rose Ann Forte 

Learn About the Honey Lake Clinic 

More on Karl’s Work 

Inbox: Bible Study Cliques

Does your small group or Bible study feel like junior high? Lisa Anderson gives advice for navigating the scene when it starts feeling cliquish. 

Find us on YouTube 

Conversations about money are some of the most critical discussions you'll have with your teens. Danny opens up about when he started talking to his kids about finances. Also, Jim Daly speaks to Dr. Ken Wilgus and Jessica Pfeiffer about how you as a parent can encourage your teens to manage their finances.

Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY.

Receive the book Feeding the Mouth that Bites You for your donation of any amount!

Take the 7 Traits of Effective Parenting Assessment

Common Teen Issues That Drive Parents Crazy 

Let's Help Our Kids Manage Money Well

Contact our Counseling Team

Support This Show!

If you enjoyed listening to the Focus on Parenting Podcast, please give us your feedback.

Stepping into a new year with big questions—about your kids’ faith, your next move, or whether God still writes surprising love stories? This warm, laughter-stuffed episode introduces FamilyLife’s new president, Luke Middendorf, and his wife Kristina--through elevator meet-cutes, campus-ministry moments, and the kind of real-life faith that reshapes families. It’s a hope-packed reminder that God still actively pursues, guides, and opens doors--sometimes literally.

Show Notes and Resources

• • All FamilyLife small group kits and workbooks are 25% off January 6-31, 2026.

  • Need prayer? Head to https://www.familylife.com/prayer-requests/"

  • Find resources from this podcast at shop.familylife.com.
  • See resources from our past podcasts.
  • Find more content and resources on the FamilyLife's app!
  • Help others find FamilyLife. Leave a review on Apple Podcast or Spotify.
  • Check out all the FamilyLife's podcasts on the FamilyLife Podcast Network

   

See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy

They say the best form of advertising is word of mouth. When one person tells another about his experience, it’s very persuasive. Well, that form of expression was around long before Madison Avenue brought it to radio and TV. The Lord invited us to tell others what He’s done for us. And today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie shows us what we can learn on this issue from the prophet who ran from God – Jonah. We’ll see, when Jonah finally turned around, so did an entire city!

—

Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years.

Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.

Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupport

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Long-term care has quickly become one of the greatest financial and emotional pressures facing American families. Rising costs, longer life expectancy, and limited insurance coverage have created a situation few retirees are prepared for. On today’s episode of Faith and Finance, Harlan Accola joins us to explore this issue. He leads the reverse mortgage team at Movement Mortgage and works closely with families navigating long-term care decisions.

Accola describes long-term care as “the elephant in the room.” As Baby Boomers age and care needs rise, families are trying to balance support for aging parents with raising children and managing their own financial responsibilities. Many households avoid discussing care needs until a crisis forces difficult decisions.

The numbers reveal why planning is essential. Studies estimate that between 50% and 70% of retirees will require some level of long-term care during their lives. Yet more than 90% of those individuals have not purchased long-term care insurance—and many assume Medicare will cover the cost of nursing or assisted living facilities. In reality, Medicare provides limited short-term rehabilitation benefits, while long-term care typically falls under Medicaid, which only applies once a person has depleted most of their financial assets.

Costs vary widely by region, but nursing facilities can range from $80,000 to $120,000 per year, and in-home care providers may charge $30–$40 per hour. Just one or two years of intensive care can rapidly deplete savings intended to last decades in retirement.

One of the most overlooked financial risks is the well-being of the surviving spouse. Accola notes that husbands often require extensive care first, and the assets used to pay for their care can leave their wives financially vulnerable after their passing. Without adequate planning, the surviving spouse may face an underfunded retirement and fewer choices for her own care needs.

To address this gap, families are encouraged to expand their planning tools. One strategy Accola highlights is to tap housing wealth through reverse mortgages. Because many retirees have significant equity tied up in their homes, a reverse mortgage can unlock funds without requiring monthly payments. These tax-free dollars can be used to pay for in-home care, cover long-term care insurance premiums, or bridge the gap between retirement income and care costs. It also allows individuals to remain at home longer—often delaying or avoiding the need for costly facility care—and preserves retirement accounts for the surviving spouse.

Accola emphasizes that reverse mortgages are not a universal solution, but they should be included in the suite of planning options that families evaluate, alongside insurance, savings strategies, and Medicaid planning. Far too many households ignore the issue entirely or assume Medicare will handle it.

As long-term care needs continue to rise, proactive planning is no longer optional. Exploring the full range of financial tools available can reduce stress, protect surviving spouses, and provide dignity and stability during the later stages of life.

• I’m 66 and plan to retire at 70. I can take full Social Security at 66 and 10 months. Should I start benefits now while continuing to work full-time, or wait? If I take it now, should I place the funds in an IUL, an IBC strategy, or invest through my Edward Jones account?
• I’ve borrowed from my 401(k) several times over the past decade and paid myself interest. Since I hate paying interest on loans like auto loans, is borrowing from my 401(k) a better option than t

It began with panic attack about having “too much” stuff in her home and schedule — prompting Courtney toward a spiritual journey of saying “no” to shopping, screens, and busyness. As a result, she and her family have more capacity to hear from the Lord and spend time with others.

Receive the book Uncluttered and an audio download of "Clearing Out Your Space and Schedule" for your donation of any amount! Plus, receive member-exclusive benefits when you make a recurring gift today. Your monthly support helps families thrive.

Get More Episode Resources 

If you enjoyed listening to Focus on the Family with Jim Daly, please give us your feedback.

No matter how committed you are to Christ, your loyalty will be tested. Abraham faced the most difficult test a father could face—being asked to sacrifice his son. Abraham’s story is a great example of how trials can strengthen our commitment to God.

Donate: https://store.intouch.org/donate/general

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kids are always watching—especially when it comes to how we handle money. Every purchase, every act of generosity, every moment of contentment quietly shapes how our children learn to view God’s provision. On the next Faith & Finance Live, Rob West and John Cortines look at five practical ways to build a biblical financial foundation for the next generation. Then, it’s on to your calls. That’s Faith & Finance Live—where biblical wisdom meets today’s financial decisions—weekdays at 4pm Eastern/3pm Central on Moody Radio.

Faith & Finance Live is a listener supported program on Moody Radio.  To join our team of supporters, click here.

To support the ministry of FaithFi, click here.

To learn more about Rob West, click here.

To learn more about Faith & Finance Live, click here.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.