Finding Life after Death — guest: Tim Tucker

When you experience a significant loss, such as the death of a loved one, you may try to replace your grief and guilt with something that provides meaning and purpose. But replacement isn’t healing. And you need healing.

After Tim Tucker’s wife Laura died, he wrote a book, Grief and Grace, to chronicle the six months of deep pain, loss, and grief that he experienced. He then remarried, welcomed a new child to join his three children from his first marriage, and took on a new job. But he felt God calling him to write another book on grief. In that book, Finding Life after Death, Tim shares more lessons he’s learned and provides more support to others who are struggling with loss.

You’ll find healing and hope in our discussion with Tim.

In 2013 Tim joined The Message Trust, founding the first international hub of The Message in Cape Town, South Africa, to reach urban youth through Gospel-centred and holistic discipleship programs. Recently, Tim joined The Message’s global development team to guide operations across Africa.

Tim is passionate about Africa and, in particular, investing in African leaders. His books include The Pace Setter, Grab a Towel, Grief and Grace, and his latest, Finding Life after Death.

Tim is married to Christina. The couple and their four children reside in Cape Town. A wealth of resources from Tim are available at the Grab a Towel site. Connect with Tim on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Weekly Strength 2.12: The Nature of God — Truth

Jesus told Pilate, “For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

Pilate responded, “What is truth?”

Ultimately, Pilate learned the truth. And the truth set him free.

This week’s Bible passage: 2 John 1-6

Podcast resource: 52 Weeks of Strength for Men (ebook, paperback, study guide)

Other resources:

Challenging Men to Pursue Relational Discipleship — guest: Craig Fry

At a time when men’s ministries are struggling — and men are struggling — Christ Led Communities is thriving. Craig Fry, who has led CLC for the past 11 years, explains why. The two keys to CLC’s success, he says, are:

  1. building brotherhood bonds in small groups of men
  2. a call to commitment

Get Craig’s insight into how and why God will bless relational discipleship at your church.

In addition to leading CLC, Craig is the Lead Pastor at Gallatin Church in Gallatin, TN, northeast of Nashville. He has been a Senior Pastor, a Youth Minister, an Executive Sales Director, and a Chief Operations Officer.

As discussed in this episode, Craig will retire from leading CLC as soon as CLC finds his replacement. The job description is here.

00:00-03:05 introduction
03:05-07:55 After 15 years out of ministry, God calls Craig to CLC.
07:55-11:30 how God is blessing CLC, and the men in it
11:30-15:35 two keys: building brotherhood bonds and a call to commitment
15:35-20:55 meeting men where they are, and supporting pastors
20:55-25:00 dynamics of a diverse group of men
25:00-27:45 why CLC has a bright future
27:45-33:20 adapting to different countries and cultures
33:20-35:25 calling men out of isolation
35:25-49:08 the impact of CLC; Craig’s final thoughts

Weekly Strength 2.11: The Nature of God — Salvation

Scholars say that Charles Dickens wrote his most famous work to alert people to the terrible plight of England’s poor, especially poor children.

I say that he wrote it to tell a story of salvation.

This week’s Bible passage: Matthew 16:24-27

Podcast resource: 52 Weeks of Strength for Men (ebook, paperback, study guide)

Other resources:

Giving God Control of Your Finances — guest: Bob Lotich

What role does God play in your personal and family finances?

When he lost his job during the financial crisis of 2008, Bob Lotich heard God calling him to do something crazy: make his blog his full-time job. There was just one problem: the blog was bringing in less than $100 a month. But Bob trusted God, and within nine months he was earning more than he had working for a big financial firm.

 In our interview, Bob shares what God has taught him through that experience and other experiences with giving God control of his finances.

Bob Lotich is an award-winning author, podcaster, financial coach, and Certified Educator in Personal Finance (CEPF®). He has been named a top-20 influencer in personal finance, and his writing and advice have been featured in Focus on the Family, Forbes, Yahoo Finance, Inc., Beliefnet, Time, and many others. He shares his best lessons with over 52 million readers and listeners on his blog, SeedTime.com, and the SeedTime Money Podcast.

00:00-03:45 introduction
03:45-12:15 Bob’s fence-post story: turning point in his financial life
12:15-18:00  losing a job and starting a new career
18:00-22:10 building the business
22:10-27:00 one thing that financially successful people do
27:00-35:00 highlights from Bob’s book, Simple Money, Rich Life
35:00-49:25 what the Bible says about money . . . and why

Weekly Strength 2.10: The Nature of God — Righteousness

He had no experience, so he winged it. He had no credentials, so he invented some. He forged documents. He bribed officials.

All to save the lives of 669 children he’d never met. Children who, for 50 years, had no idea who he was or what he had done.

This week’s Bible passage: Romans 3:21-26

Podcast resource: 52 Weeks of Strength for Men (ebook, paperback, study guide)

Other resources:

HIGHLIGHTS: An Innovative Approach to Missions Using Bitcoin — guest: Dr. Patrick Melder

In these highlights from episode 37, guest Patrick Melder explains:

  • How Bitcoin has clarified and enriched his Christian faith
  • How he is using Bitcoin to enrich the lives of people in Guatemala
  • How Bitcoin can be a “conversation starter” to share the gospel

After undergraduate studies at Houston Baptist University and medical school at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Patrick became an Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) surgeon and sleep specialist. He trained at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and was on active duty with the US Army for 13 years. In 2006 he left the Army as a Lieutenant Colonel and started his private practice career. A serial entrepreneur, Patrick holds nearly 30 US and international patents. He has been involved in church ministry (elder, lay missions pastor), has been on numerous missions trips, and is passionate about God’s mission to the ends of the earth. He has written The Christian Case for Bitcoin and The Philosophy of Bitcoin and Religion.

Disciple-Making in the Real World — guest: Cody Andrews

Tired of seeing your friends sitting on the sidelines with their Christian faith? Tired of waiting for your church to offer something meaningful for men?

Maybe you should follow the example of Cody Andrews.

Cody had no formal religious training and no experience with men’s ministry. But he spearheaded an effort to get men’s discipleship going at his small church in a small Pennsylvania town. In this interview, he shares how God has blessed his effort and how God can bless yours.

After earning a BA in History at California University of Pennsylvania, Cody began working for a large utility company, and today he designs both commercial and residential electric services. He, his wife, and their two children live in small coal town, Waynesburg, an hour south of Pittsburgh, where they enjoy exploring God’s creation, hunting, kayaking, hiking, fishing, and swimming. After years of volunteer leadership in his church, Cody began to pursue his Master of Divinity degree and hopes to enter full-time ministry. 

00:00-02:30 introduction
02:30-07:30 Cody’s fence-post stories
07:30-12:00 a call to start men’s ministry at a small church
12:00-15:30 getting it started . . . during the pandemic
15:30- 20:30 lighting the discipleship fuse with CLC
20:30-35:00 short-term impact of relational discipleship
35:00-48:22 why relational discipleship is strategic, not tactical

Weekly Strength 2.09: The Nature of God — Power

No matter how many miracles Jesus performed, the people around him — religious leaders, ordinary people, and even his closest followers — kept asking him for another sign that he was the Messiah.

So he gave them one. One that they didn’t expect. One that would change the world . . . one person at a time.

This week’s Bible passage: Revelation 5:8-14

Podcast resource: 52 Weeks of Strength for Men (ebook, paperback, study guide)

Other resources:

Leaving the Christian Music Machine — guest: Ben Calhoun

Just a few years after his band, Citizen Way, scored its first #1 song, Ben Calhoun left the Christian music industry.

He never stopped making music. But his experiences in the industry have shaped how he approaches his craft and inspired him to help other artists who strive to use the gifts and talents with which God has blessed them.

Ben’s story and insights will make you take a closer look at how you are using your own gifts and talents to fulfill the Great Commission.

The son of a pastor and musician, Ben is a proud husband and father of three girls in Franklin, Tennessee. He also is the founder of:

  • General Records, which helps artists with songwriting, production, music videos, and general mentoring and management
  • Generosity Rocks, a non-profit fundraising platform for musicians and missionaries

 Email Ben at ben@bencalhoun.com

00:00-04:00 introduction
04:00-07:05 Ben’s fence-post stories
07:05-09:20 starting and being in a band (Citizen Way)
09:20-15:35 issues with the Christian music industry
15:35- 21:55 issues in the local church
21:55-25:45 a better way to make disciples
25:45-33:22 the importance of the Bible for men
33:22-38:35 banding together with other men around God’s Word
38:35-45:37 how the Bible caused Ben to trust in God
45:37-48:48 the Bible vs. culture
48:48-end supporting Christian artists; the perils of “platforms”