Church Hurts And

Finding My Parents with Tim Dyson

Radio Show Surprise Ending. When I was growing up, professional athletes were a little less “professional” than today. T.V. cameras and interviews after the game often included “Hi Mom!” and thanks to their parents for getting them to such a success point. Back then, I found it a bit annoying, where now I miss the innocence and authenticity of it all.

Having done this show for the past year, I have been surprised by how many of our guests end up talking about their parents when we got into the deeper life issues. My mother died shortly after I turned three. My father died when I was only 22, and I’ve felt handicapped in life. I couldn’t take my wife-to-be to meet my Dad and it would have shown her a lot about me. I loved my Dad, but his failings and flaws impacted me for years into the future. In fact, they still do.

When a new baby comes into the world, it is common for the adoring family and close friends to make comments about how they have physical attributes of the mother or father. I find it ridiculous, impossible to discern, and as reliable as your daily horoscope. But as life goes on, often the genetic and character traits passed from parent to child are undeniable. Parents teach us what we should be like and model for us how to navigate this world with varying degrees of success.

So what do you do when that thing called a “nuclear family” betrays you, dies, gives you up for adoption, turns to booze, or just flakes in the myriad of other ways possible? What is it like to live life trying to fill out a form that asks for your father’s name, and you don’t know the answer? We’ve all seen the T.V. shows of adopted children becoming adults and going in search of their “biological” parents. They are gut-wrenching or emit heartwarming conclusions much rarer than the editing room floor would tell.

Where would one go to find such stories? Certainly, Jails and Prisons would be a place to start. The reality is one wouldn’t need to go to such lengths. Just listen when people around you begin talking about their own families. Strange and unique combinations of people, betrayal, and heartbreak lurk beneath the surface.

Today we have your local small business banker in Orange County. Need a business loan? He’s your man. He’s a great father to two handsome teenage boys. Active in his church. Let’s open the phone lines and ask him about family.

Welcome, Tim Dyson to Church Hurts And.

Fiction Meets Life with Michael Phillips

I grew up in a home where I was encouraged to read, perhaps not in the healthiest of manners, but encouraged to read nonetheless. My natural adversarial personality did not accept such prodding easily, my push-back coming in the form of, or preference to, physical activity. Give me a ball of any kind, and I was happy.

I happened to have the good fortune of growing up in Pittsburgh, the second cloudiest city in the US, with winters unfriendly to little boys wanting to run and play outside, our periodic football games in the snow a rare opportunity. Nasty weather drove us indoors, restlessly impatient, looking for something to do. Once bored enough, the ample books awaited to be opened by hesitant youthful eyes.

While a few classics were consumed in such moments, before long I discovered various genres more to my liking. The Hardy Boys mystery novels were consumed along with Nancy Drew and her equally challenging exploits. Next escape novels from WWII were discovered in abundance. Reading itself could be an escape I realized, something much needed in my abusive, unfriendly childhood home.

I guess there is something good about learning the value of books for escape and enjoyment before accepting their value for learning itself. It was many years later I embraced the enjoyment of education, expanding one’s mental geography while traveling through time between the pages of a book. 

I picked up a new author a few months ago, wondering if he would be worth reading. My rule is to read at least fifty pages before rejecting the book for good. I was cynical about this guy for reasons not worth elaborating upon, but I got through the first fifty pages, more than a little intrigued. I’m on my fourteenth book now and recently discovered I have the option of going for fifty more.

The characters are deep, real, multidimensional, and struggle with the same issues in life as I do. They live in times I want to know more about and in places, I want to go. Their relationships struggle with things I struggle with and their doubts seem to match my own as well.

So today on Church Hurts And you get to meet that author along with me. His name is Michael Phillips and he doesn’t do many interviews. He’s a writer, not a public speaker, but he has graciously agreed to come out of his Shire, of sorts, to be with us.  Welcome, Michael Phillips to Church Hurts And.

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Inside a Book Doctor with Dr. Steve Halliday

OC Talk Radio Show: If you are not a reader, you may be tempted to hang up, turn off, or otherwise ignore this show when you hear the title "Inside a Book Doctor." I encourage you not to because we will look at some things that may confirm suspicions you have about books, or at least I hope we will. Books are funny things.

Many years ago I started a church that grew in numbers year after year. Many of our new members were converting to faith after years, if not a lifetime, of rather casual attitudes toward God, the Church, the Bible, and Jesus himself. Their conversions seemed as authentic as could be, with newfound excitement to learn about God’s word, develop lifestyles as believers, and reform their views of the world and their families. It was exciting.

But then something happened. Some of these people started showing up to church with really weird views and even stranger questions. An inordinate amount of interest in the Book of Revelation and Daniel seemed to be a common thread. Where were they getting this stuff? I was the only pastor they had ever had, provided the only teaching they had sat under in a church context.

Some took this even further and started to become quite judgmental of others who didn’t believe as they believed about all kinds of things. Questions concerning the rapture and demon possession arose. It was causing quite a stir. I was befuddled. What was I doing wrong? It caused me no small amount of insecurity and sleepless nights.

But it didn’t take extraordinary investigative skills to discover that Christian Radio, TV, and Christian Bookstores were not my friend as a pastor. With the sincerest of motives, many of these new converts were simply looking to learn more about their faith and tuning into things to enrich their Christian growth. Books with pretty covers and enticing titles were bought from the local Christian bookseller to supplement what they were getting from their local church.

So this young pastor embarked upon a journey to teach discernment to my congregation. Not everything with cover and the name of Jesus is true. Not everyone with a microphone and title in front of their name is worth listening to.

So how are we to know? How do Christian books get into print? What’s the real story? Today we have one eminently qualified to give us an insider's view.

Welcome, book doctor, Dr. Steve Halliday, to Church Hurts And.

Creatively Faith with Hope Harrison

What are you good at doing? I mean really good. Did math come easy for you? What about sports? Do you enjoy adding up the numbers while someone else is going out there and doing the sales? Maybe cooking, or comforting those who are hurting, or motivating the discouraged. Perhaps you are a teacher? What are your unique gifts and talents?

If you were ever involved in a church of any kind, you probably heard that God gifts people, everyone, but not all the same. He gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as teachers and the list goes on. A creative God creates creative people (Imago Dei -in the image of God) and all us of getting to enjoy the creations of both. Unfortunately, some of us struggle to discover our own gifts, our own talents, and our place in this creative creation. Part of this unfortunate situation also may include unhealthy envy of those who have the more obvious gifts, forgetting something really important.

Do you know why the God of the Universe gives His creatures gifts? What is the purpose of all this diversity, beauty, and skill display? There is an answer and if it is not on the top of your mind, it may be why you struggle with knowing your own giftedness.

Here comes the answer. Why do you have unique gifts? Ephesians 4:12 & 13: “to equip the saints for works of ministry and to build up the body of Christ, 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, as we mature to the full measure of the stature of Christ.”

That’s a mouthful, but it is powerful. Let me put it another way. Your giftedness is to help other people, break down divisions, and reveal the true God. That’s the job of the Church. Think we could use that today?

This show is titled “Creatively Faith.” We are going to meet an artist who pushes creativity to a new level. She is fun. She is powerful. She is full of faith, and her story can not but help to inspire. 

Welcome, Hope Harrison, to Church Hurts And.

 

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Filling In the Ruts with Daren Young

Is your life going smoothly this week? Had a smooth beginning to the year? Would "smooth" describe the nature of your life? I'm just guessing here, but I suspect I haven't gotten a "yes" from you yet. Smooth is an expected ideal much more than a reality experienced with any frequency. 

Many years ago, when I was a young minister, I ran into a middle-aged pastor at a meeting of pastors. He stood out in the crowd. To me, he seemed cool. His dress was elegantly casual. His hair combed handsomely without perfection or gel. His smile was quick, and good humor seemed to follow his conversations. Ready with my newfound theological precision, I approached him along with a few like-minded friends to check him out further. It really was not too unlike dogs in a dog park, sniffing out another breed. He greeted us, that twinkle in his eye of one who knew what was coming, and he was up to the task.

It didn't take long for the kidding to begin as he played with our minds, allowing me to call attention to the small smooth stone he wore on a chain around his neck, knowing I was giving him the very opening such an adornment obviously desired. I don't remember the story, but I do remember the conversation which followed. It was about how sin played into preaching. Did he tell people they were sinners in need of a savior, or did he soft-pedal that part of the Gospel message?

"Let me tell you about the people who come to my church," he said. "All week long, they are told they are not good enough, they don't sell enough, they don't work fast enough, they aren't charming enough or energetic enough, caring enough, and they don't produce enough for the bottom line." "Now," he continued, "how am I supposed to tell them they aren't good enough, righteous enough, holy enough, spiritual enough, or godly enough and expect them to believe we offer anything different from the world?" He made his point.

Today we have someone who knows a few things about rough roads, ruts, and pit holes. He paves them for living along with his over 270 employees. Meet Daren Young for our show "Filling in the Ruts."
Welcome, Daren, to Church Hurts And.

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Shoe Dog Decisions with David Corsi

In 1982 I was ordained in downtown Chicago. The service was a big deal. My favorite preacher, Steve Brown, whose God-like voice you hear on the intro to this show, came and preached. Lots of my friends were there, my little start-up church which is still alive and well today was hosting the occasion. It had as much formality to it as I can stomach, including what is called a “Charge” to the newly ordained minister, me. That was delivered by my favorite Philosophy professor who had driven 420 miles to be there. Dr. Tom Gregory. I was humbled and honored by his presence.

Do you know what he said? I’ll never forget it because it made me squirm. His opening line was, “John, you have beautiful feet.” I thought I was going to die. This was a very proper curmudgeon, not given to the type of shocking lines I liked to deliver. What was his point?

He went on to quote from the prophet Isaiah (52:7), “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news.” The Apostle Paul quotes this in his letter to Romans asking how people can believe if they have not heard. So feet are this wonderful image of the good news of Christ being taken from one place to the next. My professor knew of my desire for people to hear the good news of the gospel, particularly those who had heard bad news in the places good news was to dominate. At Church Hurts And, we know that is too often the Church.

But let us get back to feet. Do you remember when athletic shoes were called “Tennis Shoes” or sneakers? The only brand names I remember were PF Flyers and Keds and the color options were black or white. Now, do you remember your first pair of athletic shoes which weren’t canvas? If you aren’t old like me, you won’t remember that.

What we have on our feet today is simply an established fashion statement, and today we get to glimpse inside that athletic, fashion shoe world, jump into the basketball court and then take a trip to the Philippines with a man who knows the inside story.

Welcome, Shoe Dog David Corsi to Church Hurts And.

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Making the Links with Wally Armstrong

If you don’t like golf, don’t hang up. I understand. And if you don’t like golf, and you find yourself continuing to find a way to get to the golf course, really don’t hang up! Today we will be talking about golf, but we are going to make links to real-life, which could be soul-changing for you.

For 25 years of my life, I was a pastor and preacher. I built churches, preached every Sunday, met with hurting people, and tried to be the real McCoy in contrast to the charlatans who seems to get news headlines I never coveted. Sometimes I would get the recordings of my sermons and listen to them. It was a horrifying experience. I could never say what I wanted to say in as clear, precise, and compelling way as I desired.

In contrast, I would listen to great contemporary preachers who communicated the very things I was trying to convey. Why did they seem to be able to preach so much better than me? Was I mistaken in my sense of call to the ministry? While my churches tended to grow in numbers, spirit, and vitality, shouldn’t they be growing faster? Perhaps if I was more gifted, more holy, harder working, and wisely strategic, I would see more fruit from my labor.

You know exactly what I am talking about. Maybe you weren’t a preacher or a public figure submitting to the never-ending commentary of critics around. Still, you have had the voices in your head telling you, you aren’t good enough, smart enough, talented enough, or charming enough to make the grade. Do you let it beat you down?

Today we get to learn from a man who has lived much of his life in the rarified air of golf’s elites. He’s played in all four majors, even setting a course record at the Master’s for a first-time participant in 1978 when he came in 5th. This man is a “pro” in many ways, an author, dedicated family man, and has much more than a casual relationship with Jesus Christ.

Welcome, Wally Armstrong, to Church Hurts And.

Sinner Saints Revealed with Ben Virgo

Sinful Saints Revealed. How is that for the title of our show today? It sounds like a bad headline from a trashy newspaper found in the check out line in a second rate grocery store. Sinful Saints Revealed. Really?

Did you know that the word “saint” means many different things depending on who you are talking to? Roman Catholic and Orthodox traditions have a formal understanding of saints, including canonization established first in the 10th Century. It may surprise many that sinlessness is not a requirement for sainthood in any tradition. 

With the advent of the Protestant Reformation in the 16th Century, the whole notion of Saints was turned on its head. Anyone who is truly a Christian is considered a saint. If this sounds confusing, it really doesn’t have to be. In his first letter, the Apostle Peter tells us, “You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood” (1 Peter 2:5). Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name. (Psalm 30:4)

To avoid digressing down this ages-old theological side road, we can all admit that no matter what words are used to describe Christians: Christian Leaders, Clergy, and or other public figures in Christendom, we can have a tendency to fall into hero-worship or to villainize them. Both lack the honesty characterized in Biblical Revelation, where Saints are sinners, and both sides are glaringly revealed.

Today we will look at a couple of people who might be considered in the informal subjective lineup of Protestant Fathers. It is easy to make them bigger than life, forget their frailties, and feel insignificant by comparison. But their stories are excellent and worthy of knowing to motivate us to be encouraged by the saints and reminded why they needed a Savior too.
Our storyteller today is one of my favorites from the other side of the pond.
Welcome back to Church Hurts And, Englishman, Londoner, Pastor, Scholar, and Tour Guide from heaven, Ben Virgo.

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Nightmare Before Christmas with Dave Stevens

Of all the tales of redemption one could tell at Christmastime, there is none for me quite like Charles Dickens’ novella written in 1843 entitled “A Christmas Carol”. Four spirits visit the classic character Ebenezer Scrooge in his fitful sleep, causing insight and discontent only to be resolved by a Higher Power working his magic in another human soul at the celebration of the birth of a baby.

Speaking of nightmares, how are yours doing these days? Isn’t it interesting how fascinated we can get with dreams, pondering their significance, wondering if they really do have meaning for us in real life, and even seeking advice from others who claim to have some expertise in the subject? Interestingly, there is no shortage of biblical references about dreams and even prophetic significance in some.

Consider for a moment the most significant component of dreams and nightmares. What is it? You know: we are sleeping. We wake up in a sweat or laughing or smiling. But we wake up, we hope. 

There are times we refer to something in real life as being dreamlike or nightmarish, and when those lines begin to blur, it gets scary. I must admit there has been a component of that in recent days during the pandemic. It all seems somewhat surreal, from the history books or a science fiction novel. We keep wondering when we will wake up, or at least, wish it was just a nightmare from which we could wake.

What is your worst nightmare? Are you trying to scream, and nothing comes out? Do you wake up covered in sweat? What if you discovered it wasn’t a dream and you weren’t waking up, and it just kept going?

Today we have the unique privilege of having an illustrious guest who knows a thing or two about nightmares, probably worse nightmares than you’ve ever had, and with good cause. His name is Dave Stevens; some just call him “Cowboy." and I want to jump into the middle of his nightmare. Welcome, Dave Stevens to Church Hurts And.

Standing Stone Ministry with Jim & Debbie Hogan

Standing Stones. Ever thought much about these unusual large standing stones, which probably bring to mind the famous Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England? You probably haven't, and for a good reason. We don't know much about them. 

These sizeable ancient rock formations come with little explanation. We guess the oldest to be 12,000 years old found in Turkey. Similar strange circles and other shapes pop up all over the world. They far predate any known language or alphabet, which goes a long way towards explaining why we don't know much about them. The engineering and precision of their placement are frequently so advanced they defy any logical explanation. Many also have unique astronomical dynamics to them, which are nothing short of impressive.

As curious and baffling as these structures may be, one thing we do know: they have stood the test of time, weather, civilizations, and wars. They force us to ponder humanity before written history. From where have we come? To where are we going?

For many such questions are irritating and cause impatience. There is food to be bought, children to attend, plants to water, and calls to return until there isn't. When the busyness stops, the loneliness kicks in, the fears arise, where do you turn?

For two thousand years in the Western World, there is an answer to that question. Those big haunting questions land us with a visit to the local pastor or priest. This particular profession has provided a resource for the big questions in life. The clergy have listened, provided the skills of useful sounding boards, given wisdom and solace to point us beyond ourselves to something which makes suicide an unattractive alternative.

But what happens when the busyness stops, the loneliness kicks in, the fears arise, and you be the clergy?

Today we have with us two people who decided to answer this question. Interestingly, they chose to name the organization Standing Stone. Let's meet them.

From Newport Beach, California, Jim and Debbie Hogan, the founders of Standing Stone Ministry, welcome to Church Hurts And.

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